Cleveland Malpractice Attorneys Advocate for the Rights of Victims Injured by Improperly Diagnosed or Treated Meningitis
On your side when medical professionals fail
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (“meninges”) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Most cases of meningitis are caused by a viral infection, but bacterial infections (and even fungal infections/) can also lead to meningitis. Most of the time, viral meningitis will go away on its own over time. Bacterial meningitis, however, is a medical emergency and must be treated promptly with antibiotics. We are here for you and your family when the medical professionals you entrust to treat and diagnose medical emergencies like meningitis have failed. Our attorneys at The Eisen Law Firm in Cleveland litigate aggressively when you or are loved one are harmed by untreated meningitis.
Noticing the signs of meningitis is the key to proper treatment and saving lives
Symptoms of bacterial meningitis can come on very quickly. They may include fever and chills, mental status changes (confusion or excessive sleepiness), nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light (“photophobia”), bad headache, and stiff neck. Babies with bacterial meningitis often are agitated, have rapid breathing and display unusual posture (arching of the head and neck backwards). They also often have a bulge in the soft spot (fontanelle) of the head.
Meningitis reliably can be diagnosed with a careful clinical exam, a lumbar puncture (where a needle is inserted in the spinal canal and spinal fluid is withdrawn for examination under a microscope), and a CT scan of the head. Once diagnosed, meningitis is treated with antibiotics.
How does medical malpractice occur when patients have meningitis?
Unfortunately, meningitis is sometimes misdiagnosed by doctors. This happens most often when a doctor does not pay close enough attention when taking a history (listening to a patient’s complaints and asking questions). Doctors often hear that a patient has a fever and fatigue and prematurely determine the patient has a cold or the flu. This is a cognitive error often called “premature closure of the diagnosis.” Instead of asking about sensitivity to light or checking to see whether the patient can place their chin on their chest without pain, the doctor merely prescribes flu medication or rest and hydration, and sends the patient home. Within a day or so, the patient becomes dangerously ill and is rushed to the hospital where the correct diagnosis (hopefully) is made.
A delay in the diagnosis of meningitis due to medical negligence can result in a very severe infection, which in turn can result in brain damage, seizures, hearing loss, and death. At The Eisen Law Firm, we have experience in successfully representing individuals who have been harmed by meningitis and other brain infections due to negligence.
Contact our experienced medical malpractice lawyers in Cleveland today for a free initial consultation to discuss the treatment you received for your meningitis and if you have a case
You have the right to take legal action when a doctor acts negligently and did not treat meningitis properly. Our detail-oriented attorneys at The Eisen Law Firm use all of our knowledge and skill to help victims in Cleveland and throughout Ohio to recover the compensation they deserve. Call us today at 216-687-0900 or to schedule a free consultation.