Internal bleeding is a severe condition that can have dire consequences. If internal bleeding is not met with prompt medical care, it can cause excruciating pain, damage the brain or internal organs, or cause death.
If a medical professional’s failure to address your bleeding caused you severe harm, or if a loved one has died because of internal bleeding, you can pursue legal action against those responsible. Contact a local attorney at Berkowitz Hanna about bringing a Bridgeport internal bleeding malpractice lawsuit.
Internal bleeding is defined as bleeding inside the body. The are several potential causes of internal bleeding, such as trauma, medical conditions, blood clotting disorders, and blood-thinning medication.
Car accidents, gunshot wounds, stab wounds, and other forms of trauma can cause internal bleeding. Additionally, surgery may also lead to internal bleeding. Whenever an injury inside the body is left untreated, the site may continue to bleed. Significant bleeding could lead to severe complications or require surgical repair.
Certain medical conditions can cause internal bleeding. For example, ulcers, some tumors, aneurysms, and ruptured organs may result in internal bleeding.
Hemophilia, cirrhosis, and other conditions that disrupt blood clotting could lead to internal bleeding. In most patients, blood coagulates naturally, meaning that their bodies can slow the bleeding on their own. However, in patients with certain blood disorders or liver damage, the blood does not clot effectively, and even minor wounds may bleed excessively.
Warfarin and other medications commonly prescribed for people with heart conditions can reduce the blood’s ability to coagulate. An injury that might produce only minor bleeding in most people could result in uncontrollable bleeding in someone who takes anticoagulants.
If you believe that another party’s negligence caused your internal bleeding, you should discuss potential lawsuits with a Bridgeport attorney.
Some symptoms of internal bleeding are obvious, such as blood in the stool or urine, or bleeding from the ears and eyes. However, some patients may present more subtle symptoms like dizziness, abdominal pain, brain fog, nausea, or loss of consciousness. These symptoms are also typical of other conditions, making a diagnosis of internal bleeding hard to confirm.
A physician must take a complete medical history, conduct a thorough physical examination, and order appropriate tests before ruling out internal bleeding. If the patient takes blood thinners, has symptoms that could indicate a dangerous medical condition, or has recently suffered a traumatic event, a reasonably skilled physician can investigate whether the patient is experiencing internal bleeding.
Medical professionals can investigate the cause of symptoms by ordering blood counts, platelet counts, and liver function tests. They can use imaging tests such as ultrasounds or CT scans to detect internal bleeding. Other tests, such as stool examinations, nasogastric lavage, or an endoscopic examination may be necessary to find the source of the bleeding. A failure to order these tests or an error in interpretation could lead to continued bleeding, which may prove fatal. If a medical professional fails to diagnose or treat you or a loved one’s internal bleeding, consult a Bridgeport attorney about pursuing damages.
When a medical professional does not provide services consistent with a reasonable standard of care, they may be held liable for medical malpractice. A reasonable standard of care does not mean flawless care—the law recognizes that medicine is not engineering, and mistakes may still occur. Instead, a medical professional must perform with the degree of skill and medical judgment that a professional of similar training would have exercised in the circumstances.
In a case of a patient suffering injuries or death due to internal bleeding, a physician might be liable if they:
If you intend to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit, a Bridgeport attorney must have a medical expert review your records and determine whether a breach of the standard of care has occurred.
If you believe the cause of your suffering is undiagnosed internal bleeding, you may be eligible to seek damages from the treating physician. Compensation could cover medical expenses, lost wages, incidental expenses, and payment for your suffering.
Physicians and other medical professionals must meet a reasonable standard of care when treating their patients. Consider bringing a Bridgeport internal bleeding malpractice lawsuit if you believe your injury resulted from a specialist’s failure to meet an appropriate standard of care. Contact Berkowitz Hanna to get started today.
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