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Recent Blog Posts
How Is A Brain Injury Diagnosed?
A brain injury can be diagnosed by a number of different tests. The ease by which the diagnosis is made can depend upon the severity of the injury. For example, in cases of a severe brain injury, diagnostic studies such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI will almost always reveal the diagnosis. In cases of a more mild brain injury, some of these same diagnostic tests are not expected to make the diagnosis. Neuropsychological testing with standardized tests is often necessary to identify and measure the extent and severity of a brain injury. Additional, special brain imaging tests such as PET scan or QEEG can help make the diagnosis.
Complete Paralysis As A Result Of Medical Malpractice
People can suffer complete paralysis as a result of car crashes, falls, and playing sports; however, paralysis can also occur as a result of a doctor's or surgeon's mistake. The thought of a medical mistake leading to complete paralysis is terrifying, but you should be aware of the risks and your options for recovery if it happens.
Although rare, complete paralysis as a result of medical negligence during surgery does occur and leaves innocent patients to suffer. Here are some ways complete paralysis can be the result of a surgical error:
- A lack of oxygen to the fetus during childbirth
- A lack of oxygen to a patient undergoing any type of surgery
- Too much anesthesia is given to a patient and an anesthesiologist doesn't monitor the patient closely
- A doctor makes a critical mistake during brain or spinal surgery
- An infection occurs after surgery and warning signs are ignored until it's too late
Understanding Complete Paralysis
What Is The Frequency Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In The United States?
The Brain Injury Association of America estimates the number of traumatic brain injuries in the United States to be 1.4 million each year. Of these 1.4 million injuries, 50,000 people die; 235,000 are hospitalized; and 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
What You Should Know If Your Baby Suffered Shoulder Dystocia During Childbirth
Although most pregnancies go smoothly and the majority of babies are born without injuries, sometimes things go wrong that can cause a newborn to suffer an injury at birth. Unfortunately, medical negligence is often to blame for many birth injuries, such as in the case of shoulder dystocia.
What Is Shoulder Dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia is an injury affecting an infant's shoulder area that occurs during the delivery phase of childbirth. Some symptoms of shoulder dystocia include:
- A claw-shaped hand in the affected arm
- Partial paralysis in the affected arm
- Pain and nerve damage in the affected limb
How Does Shoulder Dystocia Occur?
When a baby is born with shoulder dystocia, it means that the baby got hung up on the mother's pelvic bone, primarily because the width of the baby' shoulders is too big for the birth canal. Sadly, this complication causes an obstetrician to pull on the baby or twist the baby into an unnatural position in order to get the baby out of the birthing canal. When too much stress is placed on a baby's neck and shoulder area, the result can be shoulder dystocia. This type of birth injury can also happen when a baby is born feet first or face first (and needs to be pulled out by the feet or face).
Are Experts Needed In Cases Involving Spinal Cord Injuries?
Qualified experts — neurosurgeons, orthopedic spinal surgeons, neurologists — are absolutely essential in a spinal cord injury case. Injury by itself does not prove a case. Expert testimony is needed in medical malpractice cases and personal injury cases to prove that the injury was caused by the negligence at issue. These experts also explain what a victim of a spinal cord injury has experienced in the past and will likely experience in the future relative to required medical care and complications of daily living. We have experience in handling spinal cord injury cases and work with well-known experts in the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia areas. Do not hesitate to contact us if you or you loved one has experienced a spinal cord injury, so we can start our investigation on your behalf.
What If I Suspect That My Child’s Injury Was Caused By Medical Negligence At Birth?
Gathering evidence and facts early is essential for the success of your case. Along with this, there is always a statute of limitations period that will limit the time for filing a lawsuit. When you contact Shevlin Smith, we will accumulate all the necessary evidence and determine the amount of damages to claim on your behalf. We understand the pain sorrow that you have experienced, and we treat every one of our clients with dignity and respect.
How Is Negligence Proved In Cases Of Birth Injuries?
Negligence is proven through expert testimony of an obstetrician or nurse who testifies that the care provided deviated from what a reasonably careful doctor, nurse or midwife should have done under the circumstances. The presence of an injury or disability by itself does not prove negligence. It is essential that you contact us or as soon as the injury is discovered, so we can take all necessary steps in determining the reason for the injuries sustained. We are dedicated to your case and will devote all our effort to successfully resolving your birth injury claim
What Are The Symptoms Of A Subtle Or Mild Brain Injury?
Sometimes brain injuries are obvious — a person goes into a coma, experiences seizures, or has some other overt manifestations. Mild brain injuries, however, are often overlooked at the time of the injury. In large part, this is because a patient who has suffered a mild brain injury does not exhibit an overt injury such as a skull fracture or bleeding, and on many occasions does not even suffer a loss of consciousness. As a result, friends and family are often the people who notice changes in the injured person's personality or physical condition, ultimately leading to the diagnosis. The signs and symptoms of a mild brain injury include changes in behavior, mental functioning and physical condition. Examples of behavioral changes include irritability, increased periods of frustration and anger, depression, and anxiety. Mental functioning difficulties include increased forgetfulness, loss of memory of certain events, concentration problems, and difficulty with processing and analyzing information in noisy situations or when asked to multi-task. Physical symptoms can include headaches, loss of balance, change in taste, fatigue, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
How Does One Know If He Or She Is A Victim Of Medical Malpractice Or Negligence?
Unfortunately, many victims of medical malpractice or negligence never realize it. This fact is confirmed by national data which reflect that up to 90% of documented malpractice events remain unreported and unclaimed by patients. At Shevlin Smith, our experience has shown that patients cannot depend upon their health care providers to admit their mistakes. Patients also cannot depend upon subsequent health care providers to identify prior negligence as the cause of their injury. A victim of medical malpractice must be proactive in determining whether negligence has occurred. This means that you must obtain your medical records (or have an attorney do so for you). You must find an experienced attorney to review and analyze the medical records. A well-established attorney in this area of the law will not a fee charge for such an analysis.
When Patients Are Harmed By Medication Errors
When taken correctly, certain prescription drugs can greatly improve a patient's health; however, when the wrong dose is taken, the wrong drug is prescribed, or an administration error occurs, medication has the power to cause serious harm-even death. Unfortunately, harmful medication mistakes occur in hospitals far too often. In fact, medication errors lead to 7,000 deaths annually, according to American Nurse Today.
Although any type of medication can cause serious injuries or death when a mistake is made, there are certain drugs that are among the most harmful. According to The Joint Commission, a medical accreditation organization, high-alert medications (HAM) have the potential to cause serious harm to patients when errors occur.
Defining High-Alert Medications
The four high-alert medication classes include:
- Anticoagulants. Many people take anticoagulant medication such as warfarin, rivaroxaban, heparin, etc. These medications help prevent blood clots for people with certain health conditions; however, they carry serious risks of harm. For instance, if the wrong dosage is calculated or an administration mistake occurs, patients can suffer serious injuries, loss of function, and even death. Another way in which an anticoagulant error can occur is when a medical professional fails to restart anticoagulants after surgery-causing a patient to suffer a blood clot, stroke, or heart attack.
703-591-0067
10513 Judicial Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030
703-591-0067
From our office in Fairfax, Shevlin Smith, P.C. serves clients throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., including Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Dale City, Fair Oaks, Leesburg, Manassas, McLean, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, and Woodbridge, as well as Fairfax County, Arlington County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
