Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
If you believe you or someone close to you has been injured due to medical malpractice involving a drug allergy, you may be able to take legal action against the at-fault party. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our hard-working and diligent Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys are committed to pursuing the compensation you deserve for your harm.
A drug or medication allergy takes place when the immune system reacts to a medication. Drug allergies can result from virtually any type of drug, from over the counter medications to prescriptions. Patients given medications to which they are allergic can suffer a variety of consequences, including but not limited to rash or hives, itching, swelling, diarrhea, respiratory problems, dizziness, light headedness, and even loss of consciousness. In some cases, allergies can be life-threatening because they can send the patient into anaphylaxis, which is an acute allergic reaction that sends the body into shock. Anaphylaxis can take place within seconds or moments of being exposed to the drug to which the individual is allergic.
Patients who see a doctor for a medical condition expect competent care. Medical professionals have a duty to adhere to a standard of care when treating patients. The standard of care refers to the level of care and caution that a reasonably prudent medical professional in the same specialty would have used under the same or similar circumstances. When a medical professional causes injuries or death by failing to adhere to the standard of care, that medical professional will likely be liable for malpractice. For example, if a doctor administers a drug to a patient, to which the patient is known to be allergic (i.e., it is listed in the patient’s chart), the doctor will likely be liable for malpractice if the drug ends up causing injuries to the patient. This is because a doctor using the appropriate level of care would not miss an allergy clearly listed on a patient’s chart.
When it comes to drug allergy cases, there is the question of whether the damages from the allergic reaction were severe enough to warrant a medical malpractice claim. While some allergic reactions can involve unpleasant reactions, such as vomiting or hives, they often resolve themselves fairly quickly. In other cases, however, the reactions are much more severe and long-lasting and require additional medical care. We can evaluate the facts of your case and help you determine whether your reaction would form the basis of a malpractice claim.
If you suffered adverse effects because a doctor prescribed you medication to which you are allergic, you need to reach out to a skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we can help you navigate the legal process of filing a medical malpractice claim in New York. We are here to answer your questions and address your concerns at every step of the way. To discuss your specific case with an experienced member of our team, call 833-200-2000 or contact us through our website.
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Amputation Malpractice in Syracuse and Across New York, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, March 1, 2018
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