Intravenous Fluid Contamination

Health care providers often use intravenous fluids to treat dehydration and malnutrition and to administer patients medication, blood, and other substances. While intravenous fluids provide lifesaving aid in many instances, they can cause infections and other critical injuries if they become contaminated. In many cases, intravenous fluids become contaminated due to the carelessness of the professionals tasked with administering them to patients. If you were harmed by contaminated intravenous fluid, you should consult an attorney to discuss whether you may be able to seek damages via a medical malpractice claim. The seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys of Arfaa Law Group proudly help people seek redress for the losses caused by the negligence of their treatment providers, and if you hire us, we will work tirelessly on your behalf.

Intravenous fluids typically become contaminated when the bags in which they are stored are not correctly stored or sterilized, which creates an environment that allows bacteria to grow. If a health care provider subsequently administers contaminated fluids to a patient, the patient may develop an infection or illness that can lead to serious consequences that are far more serious than the issues for which they were initially being treated. For example, patients who receive contaminated fluids often develop respiratory problems, endocarditis, tachycardia, sepsis, and flu-like symptoms. In extreme cases, contaminated intravenous fluid can cause complications that lead to death.

Intravenous fluid contamination may be caused by an error on behalf of the company that manufactured the intravenous bag, but in many cases, it is the result of medical negligence, and people harmed by such carelessness can pursue damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. In Maryland, a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case will usually have to prove the defendant’s negligence to recover damages.

To prove the negligence of a health care provider, a plaintiff has to first show that the defendant had a duty to comply with the standard of care. Typically, the standard of care, which is the treatment a reasonable professional working in the same practice area would provide when presented with a similar set of facts, must be established via expert testimony. Next, the plaintiff needs to demonstrate that the defendant’s behavior should be considered a breach of the standard of care. Finally, the plaintiff must link the harm suffered and the defendant’s departure from the standard of care. This means that the plaintiff must offer evidence proving their injuries would not have occurred if the defendant had complied with the standard of care. Showing a breach of the standard of care and causation often requires expert testimony as well.

A plaintiff that proves a defendant’s liability may be awarded damages for the cost of any medical care that was reasonable and necessary to treat their injuries, as well as the cost of any treatment they will need in the future. If they could not work due to the harm sustained, they may be able to recover compensation for lost wages or loss of earnings as well. In addition to damages for their economic losses, they may also be granted monetary compensation for the trauma, mental anguish, pain, and suffering they endured due to the harm they suffered.

Healthcare providers frequently administer intravenous fluids to their patients, and while such fluids are typically helpful, they can cause grave harm if they are tainted. If you sustained losses due to intravenous fluid contamination, you have the right to pursue damages, and you should speak to an attorney. The diligent Baltimore lawyers of Arfaa Law Group have the skills and experience needed to help seek a just result, and if we represent you, we will advocate aggressively on your behalf. We have an office in Baltimore, where we regularly represent people in medical malpractice injury lawsuits. You can contact us via our form online or by calling us at 410-889-1850 to set up a confidential consultation.