Intubation can be vital to preventing potentially fatal harm to someone who cannot breathe normally on their own. When a breathing tube is someone’s only source of oxygen, any mistakes by healthcare professionals during or after the intubation process can have catastrophic consequences.
If you or a loved one suffered from intubation complications caused by a provider’s negligence, you should consider speaking with a Hartford intubation complications lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC. Support from one of our experienced surgical malpractice attorneys could help you secure compensation for the harm you and your family have experienced.
Intubating a patient involves healthcare professionals threading a plastic tube through the patient’s mouth or nose and into their windpipe. Once that step is completed, a breathing machine attached to that tube can artificially induce the intake of oxygen and the exhalation of carbon dioxide. Most intubation complications stem from one of two things: incorrect initial insertion of the breathing tube or a failure to monitor that the breathing tube is staying in place.
If a breathing tube is inserted into the stomach, damages the throat as it is inserted, or slips out of place before intubation is no longer required, permanent and sometimes fatal organ and brain damage can occur. This can lead to serious physical and psychological pain and trauma, as well as financial losses like medical bills and lost working capacity. Thankfully, these are all things a Hartford intubation complications attorney can help factor into your claim.
A doctor’s standard of care is what they are expected to meet based on what other equally qualified physicians would do under identical working conditions. Doctors directly involved in intubating a patient are supposed to check for certain landmarks in the throat and airway during initial intubation. This ensures that the tube is going into the right place in the body and does not damage any bodily tissues along the way. They must also pay close attention to their patients’ vital signs for the entire time they are intubated. If there are any serious complications, they must act quickly to resolve them in keeping with their medical skills and expertise.
A violation of this standard of care constitutes legally actionable malpractice. That said, you will need to go through a reasonable inquiry and obtain formal support for your claim from a qualified medical expert before you can file suit on these grounds. Our intubation injury lawyers in Hartford can speak with medical experts on your behalf and handle the ins and outs of your case while you focus on getting better.
Intubation is a procedure most medical professionals should be able to perform safely and effectively. Unfortunately, not every healthcare provider tasked with ensuring an intubated patient has a steady supply of oxygen is as careful in their performance of that task as they should be, resulting in life-altering consequences.
A Hartford intubation complications lawyer can help you take full advantage of your legal options after being injured in this way. Call Berkowitz and Hanna LLC today to discuss the best path forward.
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