Free Case Evaluation
Ohio Failure to Diagnose an Infection Lawyers
Skilled advocacy when healthcare providers fail to promptly diagnose and treat infections
Anyone who needs medical care runs the risk of developing an infection due to their presence in a hospital, during surgery, during treatment, and any other type of medical care. At Crandall & Pera, we have 50 years of combined experience filing medical malpractice cases against hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. Our Ohio failure to diagnose an infection lawyers are skilled at showing that healthcare professionals owed you a duty to conduct a complete and proper diagnosis of any possible infections and a duty to anticipate when infections might arise–and that they failed to comply with those duties.
In one failure-to-diagnose case, we obtained $15 million when a physician failed to timely diagnose a strep throat infection of a two-year-old. The delay in treatment caused brain damage and the need to amputate both legs and both arms.
Free Case Evaluation
Table of Contents
- What are the signs of an infection?
- How do medical providers diagnose infections in Ohio?
- Why do healthcare providers fail to diagnose infections properly in Ohio?
- Who is responsible for the failure to diagnose an infection in a timely manner?
- How much is a failure to diagnose an infection claim worth in Ohio?
- Do you have a lawyer near me who can represent me in a failure to diagnose case?
What are the signs of an infection?
According to the Mayo Clinic, infectious diseases are disorders caused by “organisms — such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.” The signs and symptoms differ depending on the organism causing the infection. The symptoms may include fever, fatigue, diarrhea, swollen lymph glands, muscle aches, and coughing.
The following organisms may cause the corresponding types of diseases or illnesses:
- Bacteria. These one-cell organisms may cause urinary tract infections, strep throat, and tuberculosis.
- Viruses. These minute organisms are known to cause many different diseases, from the common cold to AIDS.
- Fungi. Fungi can cause ringworm and athlete's foot. They can infect your lungs or nervous system.
- Parasites. “Malaria is caused by a tiny parasite that is transmitted by a mosquito bite.”
The treatments for infections, if a timely diagnosis is made, generally include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and anti-parasitics.
Some infections may be life-threatening. For example, infections can cause sepsis, which is an overaction to a disease that can cause an increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and other serious disorders. Untreated infections can also cause shock and organ failure. Other infections are linked to an increased risk of cancer.
How do medical providers diagnose infections in Ohio?
Hospitals, doctors, and nurses should understand what types of infections a person may have and what tests should be used to diagnose the cause.
Different tests are used to diagnose infections. These tests include:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Throat swabs
- Stool samples
- Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)
Imaging tests include X-rays, computerized tomography (CT scans), and magnetic resonance imaging tests (MRIs). Biopsies take a small sample of tissue from an internal organ for testing.
Diagnostic tests often help to eliminate possible causes so the likely causes can be narrowed down.
Why do healthcare providers fail to diagnose infections properly in Ohio?
Some of the reasons a healthcare provider may not conduct a diagnosis of an infection in a timely manner or in the proper way include:
- A methodical study to eliminate possible causes wasn’t performed.
- The hospital failed to have proper procedures and protocols for diagnosing infections.
- Doctors failed to follow competent infection diagnosis procedures and protocols.
- Nurses and other medical staff weren’t properly trained in how to identify the signs and symptoms of infections, how to document the symptoms, and how to speak/communicate with the doctors who were responsible for the patient’s medical care.
- A physician failed to refer the diagnosis to a diagnostic expert or a physician better qualified to make a proper diagnosis.
Who is responsible for the failure to diagnose an infection in a timely manner?
At Crandall & Pera Law, our medical malpractice lawyers work with diagnostic and infection specialists to determine what tests and strategies would have revealed a proper diagnosis in a timely manner. We review the responsibilities of each healthcare provider and how their duty of care to their patients was breached.
Our Ohio failure to diagnose infection lawyers file claims against all responsible medical providers. These providers may include:
- A hospital
- A medical practice
- A physician
- A nurse
- A radiologist or laboratory
- Other responsible healthcare providers
Generally, the time to file your claim is within two years from the date of the missed diagnosis. In some cases, where the diagnosis is delayed for weeks or months, you may have little time to file your claim. We recommend that you contact us as soon as possible.
How much is your claim worth in Ohio?
Our Ohio medical malpractice lawyers demand compensation for all your economic and personal damages. These include all your current and future:
- Medical bills. These include emergency care, hospitalizations, surgeries, doctor visits, rehabilitative care, medications, and assistive devices. Some patients may require oxygen therapy, long-term antibiotics, intubation, and other medical interventions.
- Physical pain and suffering. The treatments to manage infections can be very painful. The failure to treat an infection can cause organ damage and other severe consequences. Infections that aren’t treated in a timely manner can cause long-term agony, depression, worries, aches, and many other types of physical and emotional trauma.
- Lost income and lost benefits. This amount includes lost wages, lost profits, and long-term disability compensation.
- Other damages. These include loss of bodily function, inability to enjoy life’s pleasures, and loss of consortium.
We also file wrongful death claims on behalf of the family members if your loved one died due to a delayed diagnosis of an infection. These claims include damages for:
- The funeral and burial costs
- The loss of income (including the loss of an inheritance) the deceased would have provided the family members
- The loss of guidance, love, and education the deceased would have provided the family members
- The value of any services, such as household services your loved one would have provided
Do you have a lawyer near me who can represent me in a failure to diagnose case?
Crandall & Pera Law represents patients who suffer injuries or diseases due to a failure to diagnose an infection in Ohio from our office at 850 Euclid Ave #1122, Cleveland, OH 44114. We also maintain office locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, Chesterland and Chagrin Falls. In cases where the failure to diagnose an infection is fatal, our lawyers represent families. If your injuries prevent you from coming to our office, we can connect with you by phone and through video conversations.
We understand how anxious and upset you are. We’re prepared to fight for all the compensation you deserve.
Get help by calling our Ohio medical malpractice lawyers today
Delays in diagnosing an infection can cause catastrophic and permanent injuries. A delay can even be deadly. Many victims need a lifetime of medical care and live with a lifetime of pain and suffering. At Crandall & Pera Law, our lawyers are seasoned personal injury and wrongful death lawyers. We hold negligent hospitals and doctors accountable for medical malpractice. Call our Ohio medical malpractice attorneys now or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation.