When you or a loved one must receive care in the intensive care unit (ICU), we understand the stress and concern you face. ICU care, while often life-saving, can come with multiple risks. Many patients and their families are unaware of the potential for complications of ICU care and their right to recover damages when a healthcare provider makes a harmful mistake.
At Brockstedt Mandalas & Federico, we are here to protect you and seek justice if you suffer complications from a negligent provider. We are a leader in medical malpractice litigation and have recovered over $1 billion for personal injury victims.
A Review of ICU Complications
ICUs provide specialized care for critically ill patients. However, the very nature of this intensive care can lead to several medical issues. These issues can arise from the patient’s underlying condition, treatments, or ICU environment. Not all complications result from negligence. However, some of the following complications may be preventable, and if they result from substandard care, they may form the basis of a medical malpractice claim.
Infections
Patients in the ICU are often immunocompromised due to their illness or weakened state. Invasive treatments, such as catheters and ventilators, increase the risk of infections, including:
- Pneumonia,
- Bloodstream infections from central lines,
- Surgical site infections, and
- Urinary tract infections.
These infections can be very painful or life-threatening.
Vascular Issues
ICU patients are at risk for fatal or harmful blood clots, such as pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis. Lack of movement or insufficient hydration while in the ICU can contribute to these problems. If a doctor or nurse does not properly monitor all of a patient’s symptoms during their stay, they might overlook blood clot symptoms and miss the opportunity to provide life-saving care.
Medication Errors in the ICU
Properly administering medication is a big part of successful ICU care. If a doctor or nurse fails to administer medications a patient needs or if they administer a dose that is too high or low, a patient can suffer a catastrophic or fatal injury. Medication errors can include the following:
- Improper preparation of medication,
- Improper administration of medication, and
- Improper prescriptions.
Because they are both closely involved with medicating patients, both doctors and nurses can make grave medication errors in the ICU.
Common ICU nursing errors
Nurses play an essential role in ICU care. Unfortunately, common ICU nursing errors can contribute to complications. These errors may include:
- Failure to properly monitor a patient’s vitals,
- Improperly administering medication,
- Failure to properly monitor a patient for changes in their condition,
- Improper management of ventilators and other medical equipment,
- Failure to prevent infections through proper hygiene and sterile technique,
- Inadequate communication with physicians and other healthcare providers, and
- Failure to keep the patient moving at appropriate times to avoid clotting and other harmful conditions.
Reasonably handling an ICU patient is a complex dance of balancing scientific principles, attention to detail, and compassion. If your healthcare provider fails to address any of these tasks and causes you harm, you can seek compensation to recover your financial losses and pay for your pain and suffering.
Maryland Medical Malpractice Law
In Maryland, a medical malpractice claim requires proving that a healthcare provider’s actions fell below the accepted standard of care and that this negligence directly caused the patient’s injury. The acceptable standard of care is the standard of practice among providers practicing the same profession in the same community and having similar training and experience.
Once you identify the proper standard of care, you must prove the following to recover damages in a medical malpractice case:
- Duty of care—the healthcare provider had a duty to provide you with a certain standard of care;
- Breach of duty—the healthcare provider’s actions fell below that standard of care;
- Causation—the breach of duty directly caused your injury; and
- Damages—you suffered damages as a result of the injury.
Proving medical malpractice is complex. A successful case requires a thorough review of medical records, expert testimony, and a deep understanding of medical procedures and standards of care. But you don’t have to assert your rights to compensation on your own. At Brockstedt Mandalas & Federico, you can find a top medical malpractice attorney to handle the complexities of your case.
Why Hire an Attorney?
If you believe that you or a loved one suffered an injury in the ICU because of negligence or misconduct, you should consult an experienced Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer right away. You generally have only three years to file your case against a negligent provider, with some exception. The deadline for filing your case can pass quickly, so you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Our legal team has decades of experience and can do the following:
- Evaluate your case and help you understand all your legal options;
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your injuries;
- Gather the necessary evidence to present at a trial or settlement negotiation;
- Put you in touch with the best healthcare providers to help you physically and mentally recover;
- Properly time and present your case to maximize your compensation; and
- Advocate for your rights at every step.
We are here to help you navigate this difficult time and seek justice for any harm caused by medical negligence. Contact us today for a consultation.
Contact Brockstedt Mandalas & Federico for Top Legal Care
Our attorneys and team at Brockstedt Mandalas & Federico are award-winning and handle some of the biggest and most complex personal injury cases. If you need the protection and care of a top attorney, please contact us. You can call us or visit our website to schedule a consultation.
Resource List
- “What Does an Intensive Care Nurse Do and Is It Stressful?” Dr. Stacey Malinowski, American Military University, link.
- Maryland Statutes, §3-2A-02, link.
- Maryland Statutes, §5-109, link.
Phil Federico is a partner at Brockstedt Mandalas Federico where he helps lead the Mass Tort / Class Action and Environmental Law practices, transitioning into these areas after beginning his career as a medical malpractice litigator.
Phil has led and been involved in historic and groundbreaking litigation with verdicts and settlements exceeding one billion dollars.
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