Annandale, VA Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Trusted Medical Malpractice Attorney Advocating for Injured Patients in Annandale, Virginia

When people receive medical care, they trust doctors, nurses, and other professionals to take the proper steps to protect their health and safety. Unfortunately, they do not always receive the level of care they deserve. Medical negligence can lead to serious injuries and health issues, and patients may struggle to recover from the harm they have suffered, especially when they are unsure about who was responsible.

The consequences of medical malpractice can be serious. Patients can suffer injuries that may affect their overall health and well-being, and in some cases, injuries may be permanent. At Shevlin Smith, P.C., our lawyer can provide the legal representation needed in these cases. He will review medical records, work with medical experts to identify negligence, and take steps to obtain financial compensation that will help a person address the damages they have suffered and provide them with the resources they need in the future.

Medication Errors

Medications can serve as a crucial part of the treatments patients receive. However, when medication errors occur, patients can suffer serious harm. Our attorney can address negligence related to medications, including:

Errors by Prescribing Physicians

A doctor who decides what medications a patient should take may make mistakes that can cause serious injuries. A doctor may choose the wrong medication for a patient's condition, order a dose that is not appropriate for a patient, prescribe a drug without reviewing a patient's allergies, or fail to account for dangerous interactions with other medications a patient is taking.

Prescribing errors can occur when doctors fail to review a patient's health records. These errors can lead to dangerous allergic reactions or interactions with other drugs. Improper doses may lead to an overdose that could cause serious injuries or death, or a dose that is too low may not properly treat a patient's health conditions.

Drug Administration Errors at Hospitals and Medical Facilities

In hospitals, medical offices, or other facilities, nurses and other staff members may be responsible for administering medications to patients. These providers are expected to follow the proper protocols, but when they fail to do so, serious errors can occur that can affect the health of patients.

The failure to verify a patient's identity before administering medications may result in a person receiving the wrong medication. Injuries may also occur if medications are administered at the wrong doses or through the wrong routes. Patients should also be monitored after they receive medications, and the failure to do so may cause nurses to miss complications or other issues that could lead to injuries.

Errors by Pharmacists

Pharmacists are responsible for dispensing medications to patients. They are required to review the decisions made by doctors who prescribe medications and check for issues that could affect the health of patients. They are also required to consult with patients, answer their questions, and make sure they understand the proper use of medications. Pharmacy errors may include dispensing the wrong medication, dispensing a medication in the wrong dose, or failing to ensure that patients are fully informed about issues related to the use of medications.

Surgical Errors

Serious injuries can occur when patients undergo surgery due to errors by surgeons or others involved in procedures. Surgical errors may include:

Pre-Operative Failures

A patient may suffer harm if a surgeon fails to obtain informed consent before performing a procedure. Informed consent can ensure that a patient understands the risks of a procedure and other forms of treatment that may be available. When a patient has not received enough information, they may suffer harm that could have been avoided.

Injuries may also occur because of a failure to properly assess a patient before performing surgery. A surgeon may fail to identify medical conditions that could affect a patient's health. They may fail to perform the proper checks before surgery, which can result in a procedure being performed on the wrong part of a patient's body.

Errors During Surgery

Mistakes made during a surgical procedure can lead to injuries that may affect a patient's health. A surgeon may damage blood vessels, nerves, the bowel, the bladder, or other organs, leading to serious complications. In some cases, additional surgeries may be needed to correct these issues.

Surgical instruments, sponges, or other objects may be left inside a patient's body after surgery. These foreign objects can cause infections, internal injuries, pain, bowel obstructions, and other health issues. Anesthesia errors may also occur during surgery, and they may include administering too much or too little anesthesia, failing to ensure that a patient receives enough oxygen, or failing to monitor the patient's vital signs and respond to potential concerns.

Post-Operative Errors

During the recovery period following surgery, a patient's overall health may be at risk if they are not provided with the proper treatment. Complications may occur, and if they are not recognized and addressed correctly, a patient may suffer serious harm. Post-operative negligence may include failure to monitor a patient after surgery, failure to recognize internal bleeding or other issues, failure to prevent the infection of a surgical site, or discharging a patient before their condition is stable.

Contact Our Annandale Medical Malpractice Attorney

At Shevlin Smith, P.C., our attorney can provide legal help for people who have been injured due to medical negligence. He can address surgical errors, medication errors, birth injuries, misdiagnosis, and other forms of negligence involving doctors, nurses, hospitals, and emergency rooms. He can make sure the right steps are taken during a medical malpractice claim to obtain full and fair compensation for the injuries a person has suffered. Contact our Annandale, VA medical negligence lawyer at 703-591-0067 and set up a free consultation.