Indiana Medical Malpractice Attorneys for Endocarditis Injury Claims
Patients rely on medical professionals to provide proper care for a variety of conditions and diseases. Regardless of whether care is needed in an emergency room, general hospital admittance, or a doctor’s office patients expect healthcare professionals to be properly trained to assess, diagnose, and treat conditions and illnesses. When physicians, surgeons, nurses, and other medical personnel are negligent in treating patients, the outcome can have a devastating effect on a patient’s quality of life and can lead to death.
What is endocarditis?
Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of heart chambers and valves. It occurs when bacteria or other microorganisms enter the bloodstream. An infection can result if your immune system is not able to fight off these germs. Patients with endocarditis may experience a variety of symptoms including: fatigue, aching joints and muscles, shortness of breath, chest pain when you breathe, flu-like symptoms such as fever & chills, or swelling in your feet, legs or abdomen.
If endocarditis is not treated, it can lead to serious illness. Heart problems, stroke, seizure, abscesses in the heart, brain, or lungs can occur, kidney damage and paralysis are just a few of the complications that could result from a lack of treatment.
Summary of a failure to diagnose endocarditis claim
A middle-aged man presented to a hospital emergency room on 3 separate occasions over a three week period with severe and worsening symptoms of infection. The patient had an artificial heart valve placed 10 years prior which increased his risk of infection. The emergency room physicians failed to appreciate this risk and failed to diagnose an infection of the man’s artificial heart valve. The man required several months of hospitalization in Indianapolis to treat the infection which resulted in several small strokes and sepsis.
Endocarditis lawsuit
Bacterial endocarditis is a very serious condition that requires immediate treatment. The failure to timely diagnose endocarditis can create a health emergency including death.
If you or someone you know suffered serious injury after a physician failed to timely or properly diagnose endocarditis, contact us. Our medical malpractice attorneys have experience litigating claims from patients across Indiana and can advise you of your legal rights and options.