Arlington, VA Medical Malpractice Attorney

Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorney Representing Injured Patients in Arlington, Virginia

When people receive medical care at a hospital, clinic, emergency room, or doctor's office in Arlington, they expect that the professionals who treat them will follow the right procedures and use sound judgment. Healthcare providers are required to meet certain standards when treating patients, and when they fail to do so, serious harm can occur.

Patients who have been injured by negligent medical care can take legal action to address the damages they have suffered, but doing so is not always easy. To make sure the right steps will be taken during these cases, a person can work with an attorney who can protect their rights and advocate for their interests. At Shevlin Smith, P.C., we can provide the representation needed in these situations. Our lawyer will provide personalized, attentive services to ensure that clients will be able to resolve these cases successfully.

Doctor Malpractice

Doctors are responsible for diagnosing conditions, planning treatment, and making sure patients receive the proper care to address health issues and related concerns. When a doctor fails to provide the proper care, the consequences for the patient can be severe.

Diagnostic failures are some of the most serious forms of doctor negligence. A doctor who reaches an incorrect diagnosis or takes too long to identify what is causing a patient's symptoms may allow a serious illness to progress without providing the appropriate treatment. Delays in diagnosing heart attacks, strokes, cancer, serious infections, or pulmonary embolisms can cause these conditions to progress and cause serious harm that could have been prevented through timely treatment.

Treatment errors can occur when a doctor chooses the wrong type of treatment for a patient's condition, makes mistakes during medical procedures, or fails to disclose the risks of a course of treatment and obtain a patient's informed consent. Prescribing errors may occur when a doctor chooses the wrong medication, does not account for potential allergic reactions, or orders an incorrect dose.

Nurse Malpractice

Nurses may spend the most time with patients while they are receiving treatment. They will need to monitor the condition of patients, administer medications, communicate with doctors, and advocate for the needs of patients. In hospitals, medical clinics, or other facilities, negligence by nurses can cause patients to suffer serious harm.

Medication errors by nurses will often involve the incorrect administration of drugs. Nurses will need to verify a patient's identity and confirm the correct medication and dose before they administer drugs. If they fail to do so, a patient may suffer harm such as an overdose, harmful side effects, or allergic reactions. Other errors may include administering medications through the wrong route or failing to monitor a patient for potential side effects related to a medication.

Nurses in hospitals or clinics will need to assess patients regularly, watch for changes in a person's status, and inform doctors of issues that could affect a patient's health. A nurse who does not check on a patient when required, who does not notice serious health issues, or who does not report their observations to other medical personnel may be responsible for injuries that occur because of the failure to address a patient's needs.

Hospital Malpractice

Hospitals have an obligation to ensure that patients receive safe, competent care. In some cases, injuries may occur because of poor management or other forms of hospital negligence.

Problems with staffing are some of the most serious concerns that can affect patients at hospitals. When a hospital does not maintain the proper nurse-to-patient ratios, nurses may be unable to fully monitor and address the needs of all patients.

Infections can occur at hospitals due to improper procedures or failure to maintain sanitary conditions. Hospitals may fail to enforce policies that require staff members to wash their hands thoroughly, sterilize equipment correctly, or take other steps to protect patients from contracting infectious diseases.

Emergency Room Malpractice

Patients who are experiencing medical emergencies will need prompt care when they go to emergency rooms. When the personnel in emergency rooms fail to address patients' needs correctly, serious injuries can occur. Emergency room malpractice may involve triage errors in which patients are not evaluated correctly and treatment for urgent issues is delayed. Staff members may fail to diagnose time-sensitive conditions, preventing patients from receiving timely treatment. Medication errors may occur, or patients may be discharged without fully addressing their health issues.

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesiologists will need to take the correct steps to protect the safety of patients during surgery and other types of procedures. They may make errors that can seriously injure a patient, affect a person's overall health, or lead to wrongful death.

Some anesthesia errors may occur when a patient is being assessed prior to a procedure. An anesthesiologist may fail to fully review a patient's medical history, the medications they are taking, their allergies, and their prior experiences when receiving anesthesia. This may lead them to use the wrong types of anesthesia, or they may fail to recognize issues that could lead to complications during a procedure or other concerns that may affect a person's overall health.

Dosing errors can cause serious harm to patients who receive anesthesia. An overdose can cause a person's heart to stop beating, or it may cause brain damage. If a person does not receive enough anesthesia, they may regain consciousness during a procedure or experience severe pain and other complications.

Airway management is crucial when a person is under anesthesia. If the proper steps are not taken to ensure that a person receives enough oxygen, they may suffer brain injuries or other forms of harm. If an anesthesiologist does not monitor a patient correctly, they may fail to recognize issues that could affect a person's health. Errors made at any point during the process could lead to permanent disabilities or death.

Contact Our Arlington, Virginia Medical Malpractice Attorney

The harm that may be caused by medical negligence can be serious. Patients may need extensive medical care to address issues that have affected their overall health, or they may experience permanent disabilities. At Shevlin Smith, P.C., our attorney can help ensure that negligent medical providers will be held responsible for the damages that patients have suffered. Contact our Arlington medical malpractice claim lawyer today at 703-591-0067 to arrange a free consultation.