Intubation Complications

While intubation is a routine procedure, it can cause major complications if it is done incorrectly. If you’ve suffered an intubation injury caused by a medical professional’s mistake or recklessness, you may be able to seek justice and compensation through a negligence claim. Our experienced Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers have represented a number of clients in intubation complication cases arising from surgical errors and other situations, and we can apply our insight and understanding of malpractice law to your case.

Patients may need assistance breathing in a variety of situations, such as those involving surgery or illness. When this occurs, patients often undergo intubation, which is when a soft plastic tube is inserted into a patient’s windpipe. The procedure is used to maintain an open airway and make sure that a patient receives sufficient oxygen. While intubation is quite common and relatively safe, it can cause serious injury if the procedure is not performed correctly. Adverse outcomes can include traumatic brain injury, internal bleeding, irregular heartbeat, infections, and coma. In the most serious cases, intubation errors can lead to death. Complications during intubation can arise from the following errors:

• Unnecessary intubation delay;
• Incorrectly placing the tube in the esophagus;
• The tube puncturing delicate tissue with the tubing;
• Dislodging or disconnecting the tubing accidentally;
• Overinflating the tube.

Medical errors can be physically and financially devastating for a patient. If you suffered an intubation complication because of a medical professional’s negligence or mistake, you may be able to pursue compensation for your harm through a medical malpractice claim. Medical malpractice is a cause of action related to negligence in providing healthcare. This type of claim arises when a patient suffers a preventable injury as a direct result of a medical professional’s care or treatment departing from the standard of care that a medical professional in the same specialty would have used in the same or a similar situation. It is important to note that not every adverse outcome is a result of medical malpractice. Rather, medical malpractice occurs when medical professional’s deviation from the standard of care is the direct cause of the patient’s injury.

In Maryland, victims of medical malpractice are entitled to two forms of damages. The first are economic damages, which refer to compensation for objectively verifiable monetary losses such as past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. The second kind of damages are non-economic damages, which account for intangible losses such as pain and suffering. The latter is much harder to establish, but with years of experience, our lawyers understand how establish an appropriate damages amount in your case based on the evidence.

In Maryland, before plaintiffs can file a medical malpractice lawsuit against a medical professional, they must file what is commonly known as a “certificate of merit.” In order to file a certificate of merit, a plaintiff will have an expert, typically another medical professional who practices the same specialty as the defendant, review the relevant medical records and certify that the plaintiff’s medical professional deviated from the appropriate standard of care thereby causing injury to the patient. In short, the certificate of merit confirms that a medical expert has reviewed the claim and the plaintiff’s lawsuit has merit.

If you have suffered an intubation complication due to a medical professional’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore attorneys have the experience, knowledge and skill to handle your case. With extensive experience in Maryland malpractice law, we understand how to protect your rights and seek to hold negligent healthcare professionals accountable for the harm that they cause related to medical errors, dental errors, prescription errors, and more. For more information about your legal rights, call us today us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.