Medicine does many great things for us. From preventive care to palliative care, we’ve all been helped in some way by medical professionals. However, vaccinations used to prevent disease sometimes backfire and harm patients instead of helping. At what point does this lead to a medical malpractice case?
Medical professionals have a duty to inform patients before treating them. For example, patients need to know the risks and alternatives to vaccinations. When doctors and other healthcare providers fail, their negligence can lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit.
We expect vaccinations to be safe and to prevent health problems, not cause them. However, the medicine in the vaccines is hazardous to some people. For example, doctors generally are advised not to vaccinate someone who is currently ill, at least for certain types of vaccines. Also, some immunocompromised people might need to avoid these preventative drugs or at least be prepared for potential side effects. Ignoring risk factors can be considered medical malpractice, especially if a patient is seriously injured or dies.
It’s critical to monitor patients after administering certain vaccines. Also, healthcare professionals need to pay close attention when a patient reports side effects. For example, a patient might feel they are having an allergic reaction to a vaccination. Such reactions can range from a minor rash to life-threatening anaphylactic shock. Ignoring side effects could also be considered negligence and lead to medical malpractice claims.
Sometimes there are problems with the drugs used in vaccinations. A small number of people claim injuries each year by filing applications with the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. However, this program’s existence does not mean that people have to file with them if they experience problems with a vaccination. Medical malpractice litigation is still an option and, in some cases, a much better one.
Medical malpractice claims are complicated. Often, many parties are involved in the chain of treatment. Powell Law features James F. Mundy, Esq., as an attorney who has successfully litigated medical malpractice cases for several decades. Since 1906, our practice has evolved litigating personal injury claims, including medical malpractice cases, and building a body of knowledge and expertise that unquestionably provides our clients with an incomparable advantage. Powell Law has an established 115-year-old reputation throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. Contact Powell Law at call (570) 961-0777. The consultation is FREE.
