Virginia Failure To Monitor Attorney

Doctors have an obligation to monitor patients before, during, and after any medical procedure. A failure to monitor the patient during any point of the procedure may lead to a medical error. Part of providing the basic standard of care that is expected includes keeping tabs on the condition of the patient, being aware of any signs of trouble, and then responding to issues that may arise in a timely manner. If you find that you or your loved one has been hurt due to inadequate monitoring, you need to consult with a Virginia failure to monitor lawyer with experience handling medical malpractice to see if you are owed compensation based on the mistake of the health care provider.

Understanding Cases of Failure to Monitor

Failure to monitor lawyer in VirginiaThere are a number of situations where it is the job of the doctor or the care provider to keep tabs on patients and then react in a timely manner if there is an issue. A Virginia failure to monitor lawyer can represent patients who were injured by doctor’s negligent failure to monitor a patient. Some examples of situations where a doctor should be actively monitoring a patient are highlighted here:

Once anesthesia is given to the patient

When a patient is under the effects of anesthesia, then it is crucial that the anesthesiologist monitors the vital signs of the patient for any problems or issues that would indicate any type of adverse reaction to the drugs that are given.

During the actual surgical procedure

If there is a patient on the operating table, the doctor should actively keep up with their oxygen levels, as well as their heart rate in addition to other vital signs in order to avoid the patient suffering complications. Far too often, failure to monitor oxygen levels can result in anoxic brain injury or hypoxic brain injury.

During labor and delivery

Both the baby and the mother should be monitored during the entire labor and delivery process. One tool that is used for this is a fetal heartbeat monitor. It is used to ensure that both the baby and the mother are healthy and that the labor process is going as it should.

When treatment is being received by a patient

When any type of treatment is being administered to a patient, doctors should constantly monitor the patient in order to ensure that no unexpected side-effects or conditions begin to develop while treatment is administered.

During observation in a care or hospital setting

If it is recommended that a patient be placed in a hospital or care facility for observation for any reason, it is important that the healthcare provider or the hospital monitors for any signs of issues or complications. A claim in regards to failure to monitor is possible when a healthcare provider, physician, or other medical staff member should have taken better care to track a patient’s health or well-being and that lack of monitoring led to some sort of harm, pain or suffering for the patient.

Failure to Monitor Case Consequences

The consequences that result from a failure to monitor case can be extremely severe, and are dependent on the condition of the patient and what occurred when the patient was not being monitored. For example, if a doctor failures to monitor a baby during a delivery, it may result in injury or death of the infant. Additionally, if a doctor does not monitor a mother in labor properly the doctor may miss signs of preeclampsia or placental abruption, which could result in the serious injury or the death of the baby or the mother or both.

Death is also a tragic and all-too-common outcome in situations where the anesthesiologist does not monitor the vital signs of a patient under anesthesia. Any situation where a patient suffers an injury because the healthcare provider failed to monitor the patient may be grounds for a medical malpractice claim. It is important to note that medical malpractice cases, including those where a medical practitioner or institution fails to properly monitor a patient, are complex and require the assistance of a professional failure to monitor attorney in Virginia.

How a Virginia Failure to Monitor Lawyer Can Help

If you believe that you or a loved one has been a victim of such a situation, you should contact a Virginia failure to monitor lawyer as soon as possible. There is no reason to suffer in silence when you may be due compensation for the injuries that were incurred and the damages you suffered, including emotional and physical pain and suffering, lost wages, and excessive medical costs and expenses. Contact Price Benowitz LLP today for a free consultation.