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West Palm Beach Medical Tubing Error Attorney

This West Palm Beach Medical Tubing Error Attorney Assists Patients who Have Been Harmed by Medicinal Devices

Should you be harmed by a medicinal device in Florida, call 954-448-7288 to speak to this West Palm Beach Medical Tubing Error Lawyer today. Medical tubing refers to any device that helps to deliver fluids or medicines to various parts of the body. Medical tubing includes:

  • Catheters
  • intravenous (IV) lines
  • respiratory equipment
  • feeding tubes.

While medical tubing can be necessary in medical treatment, it can also be quite dangerous. Bad results typically occur when the incorrect type of tubing is used. For example, if a catheter is accidentally used instead of an IV line, catastrophic results can occur.

If an IV line is used instead of a feeding tube, then food might accidentally be sent into the bloodstream. Food in the bloodstream can result in severe conditions. For example, blood clots can form in the blood.

A blood clot in the blood can cause loss of blood to other parts of the body, which can be a terrible situation for the affected person. For example, if the brain experiences a loss of blood, brain damage can result.

If a catheter is used rather than a feeding tube, the peritoneal cavity may become filled with food. The peritoneal cavity is the space in between the parietal peritoneum and visceral peritoneum. The parietal peritoneum is the tissue that surrounds the abdominal wall. The visceral peritoneum is the tissue that surrounds the internal organs in the abdomen.

When a medical staff member/nurse uses a catheter instead of a feeding tube, food may go into the peritoneal cavity (rather than the stomach, where it is intended to go and where it can be properly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream). If this occurs, then peritonitis, defined as inflammation of the peritoneum, may result. Symptoms of peritonitis include:

  • severe pain
  • swelling of the abdomen
  • fever
  • weight loss
  • abdominal tenderness

Acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock may result if things get bad enough.

Shock occurs when the body experiences low levels of blood pressure. The various organs in the body require blood to function properly. Blood carries oxygen to the organs and allows them to thrive. When the body experiences low levels of blood pressure, these organs may suffer. If things can bad enough, permanent damage can occur to the organs.

Symptoms of shock include:

  • low blood pressure
  • rapid heart rate
  • low urine output
  • confusion
  • loss of consciousness
  • weak pulses

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is characterized by inflammation of the lungs. When this occurs, breathing may become difficult. If the situation gets bad enough, then acute respiratory distress syndrome may result. The following are symptoms of this condition:

  • shortness of breath
  • rapid breathing
  • bluish skin coloration

Should an IV be utilized rather than medical tubing used to control blood pressure, then again terrible results can happen. After all, using an IV accidentally can cause air to get into the bloodstream. Air in the bloodstream can cause embolisms. Embolisms are blockages in the bloodstream. They can include gas/air bubbles, blood clots or foreign objects. As mentioned above, all of these things can block blood flow to certain parts of the body.

Sometimes, medication can inadvertently be delivered though a respiratory tube. If this occurs, then suffocation causing death can result. If this happened to your loved one, then you may be able to pursue a medical malpractice wrongful death case on your loved one’s behalf. Either you or another family member/relative will serve as the personal representative (“PR”) of the estate which will have to be set-up. Once the case is resolved, compensation from the case will go to the “beneficiaries of the estate” (usually your loved one’s survivors).

However, there are extremely stringent restrictions on who can receive proceeds from such a case in the State of Florida. As such, it is important to contact Mr. Quackenbush as soon as possible to discuss the law of your case.

Should you or a loved one be injured due to a medical tubing mistake anywhere in Florida (including Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Miami and Miami-Dade County), call Mr. Quackenbush at 954-448-7288. This West Palm Beach Medical Tubing Error Law Firm can help you. Mr. Quackenbush will gladly speak to you about your case for free.

The Main Objective of this West Palm Beach Medical Tubing Error Lawyer is Justice for Clients

The following are a list of potential results of medical tubing mistakes:

  • organ infection
  • adult respiratory distress syndrome
  • stroke
  • heart complications
  • paralysis
  • brain damage
  • death.

It would seem to be an easy thing for a nurse or other medical staff member to use the correct medical tubing. However, nurses and other medical staff members can get extremely busy. This is especially true in hospitals, where a million things seem to be going on at once. As such, nurses or medical staff members in hospitals frequently do use incorrect medical tubing (as referenced above), and this can cause serious injuries.

If your medical tubing mistake was caused by a nurse, your case will most likely be against the hospital where the nurse worked. This is because most nurses are employed by the hospital where they work. In the State of Florida, employers are typically responsible for the actions of their employees under a theory of “respondeat superior.” It is said that employers are “vicariously liable” for their employees. Hospitals and nurses are no exception to this. If a nurse commits negligence in the hospital, the hospital will typically be responsible for such malpractice.

The only exception to this is if the actions of the nurse were committed outside of the scope of his or her employment. For example, if a nurse intentionally injures somebody, the hospital may be able to successfully argue that it isn’t responsible for the nurse’s actions because the nurse wasn’t supposed to hurt somebody.

However, in that case, you may still be able to argue that the hospital is liable under a theory of negligent hiring, negligent supervision or negligent retention if the hospital knew of the dangerous propensities of the nurse (e.g., if the hospital knew the nurse was a convicted felon or had intentionally injured patients in the past).

One of the most important factors in a medical malpractice case against a hospital is whether the hospital was a government-owned hospital or a private hospital. If the hospital where you were hurt was owned by the city, county or State, then the case will be one of “sovereign immunity.” Unfortunately, a sovereign immunity case carries with it all sorts of restrictions and caps.

For example, in a sovereign immunity case, you can typically only recover up to $200,000 in compensation. Moreover, there are time-restrictions on when you can file your lawsuit.

This South Florida Medical Tubing Mistake Attorney/Lawyer Advises Clients in their Darkest Hours

In the State of Florida, the statute of limitations for a medical malpractice/negligence case is two-years. This means that you have two-years from the date of the medical negligence or two years from the date you knew or should have known of the negligence. After all, after medical malpractice, you may not always know immediately that the malpractice was committed. In that case, the two-years doesn’t start running until you knew or should have known of the malpractice.

However, typically you won’t be able to bring your lawsuit after four-years no matter when you knew or should have known of the negligence. This is known as the statute of repose. The only exception to the statute of repose is if the doctor, hospital or medical facility where you were injured committed fraud or intentionally covered up the negligence. In that case, you will have seven-years to bring your lawsuit.

Finally, in no circumstance will the statute of repose prevent a child from bringing a medical malpractice case (though his or her parent, typically) before his or her eight birthday.

Contact this Palm Beach County Medical Tubing Negligence/Malpractice Law Firm

If you’ve been hurt as a result of medical tubing in Palm Beach County (including in Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Greenacres, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Lantana, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Springs, Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach and Wellington), reach out to Mr. Quackenbush at 954-448-7288. He will be happy to discuss your case at no charge to you.

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Anthony is knowledgeable, accessible and provides explanations in detail so your particular case is easier to understand step by step. I strongly recommend Anthony to anyone in search of an attorney. Justin W
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Anthony Quackenbush is a top-notch attorney who will go the distance for you and your family. There aren’t many attorneys you can trust in South Florida, but rest assured that Mr. Quackenbush is as loyal and trustworthy as they come. Gabriel D.
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Tony Quackenbush is an awesome attorney. He was patient, effective, and professional with handling my personal injury case. He secured more money for my injury then I ever would have hoped or dreamed. I'm whole today because of Tony. Yesi P.