A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event that brings pain and heartache. Almost 2 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year.
To get through a cancer diagnosis, all we can do is trust our doctors and other medical providers to guide us through the treatment process.
Fortunately, cancer treatment is getting better yearly, and more people recover quickly.
Often, doctors prescribe chemotherapy as an essential step in treatment. Even under the best circumstances, chemotherapy is an arduous experience.
The consequences can be dire when a medical provider makes an avoidable mistake. Unfortunately, chemotherapy malpractice leads to preventable injuries far too often.
At Poulos & Coates, LLP, our experienced chemotherapy malpractice attorneys can give you the best chance of receiving just compensation after suffering medical harm. To get started, contact us today.
Chemotherapy Medical Errors
Chemotherapy medication errors are a common problem in hospitals throughout the US. Even minor errors can cause a great deal of harm to patients. Chemotherapy is difficult to administer and requires doctors and nurses to account for many factors.
For these reasons, medical professionals follow strict procedures when it comes to the administration of chemotherapy. Common chemotherapy medical errors include:
- Over and underdosing,
- Improper administration schedules,
- Timing errors,
- Infusion rate errors,
- Using the wrong medication,
- Improper hydration,
- Administering chemotherapy to the wrong patient,
- Improper packaging,
- Labeling errors, and
- Patient monitoring errors.
Many of these errors are avoidable and constitute medical malpractice.
Common Injuries
Chemotherapy involves the use of powerful drugs that carry many adverse side effects. However, the side effects are manageable so long as medical professionals administer the medications properly.
When they administer the drugs incorrectly, the consequences are often unacceptable. Chemotherapy malpractice can cause severe and life-threatening injuries. These injuries include:
- Infection,
- Irreversible neuropathy,
- Severe diarrhea,
- Dehydration,
- Increased risk of bruising and bleeding,
- Bone marrow damage,
- Severe anemia,
- Irreversible liver or kidney damage,
- Mouth or intestinal sores,
- Constipation,
- Fatigue,
- Memory loss,
- Nausea and vomiting,
- Fertility problems, and
- Difficulty with urination.
These injuries can affect a victim’s ability to work, perform everyday tasks, and enjoy their life and family.
Recoverable Damages
Recovering from cancer treatments is a painful process. It can be much harder if you are the victim of chemotherapy malpractice. In New Mexico, victims of chemotherapy malpractice may be entitled to compensation to make up for these added burdens.
Further, the families of those killed by medical malpractice may also be entitled to compensation. Common damages recoverable due to medical malpractice include:
- Lost current and future wages,
- Current and future medical expenses,
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of consortium (marital companionship),
- Funeral costs, and
- Loss of a significant other’s future income.
The damages a victim is entitled to depend on the circumstances of their injury. It is crucial to consult a chemotherapy malpractice attorney to determine what compensation you might be entitled to.
A New Mexico Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help
If you think you are a victim of chemotherapy malpractice, Poulos & Coates, LLP can help. We are the only New Mexico law firm focusing exclusively on medical malpractice and have an attorney, doctor, and nurse work on every case.
Our experienced chemotherapy malpractice attorneys have recovered over $300 million for our clients through jury verdicts and settlements. We understand how medical malpractice can turn the lives of victims and their families upside down.
Contact the New Mexico medical malpractice attorneys at Poulos & Coates, LLP today so we can help you in your recovery process.