IV Drip Injury Medical Malpractice Lawyer

An IV drip is used to administer various fluids into a vein, which sounds like a relatively straightforward procedure. But injuries can happen when the fluid enters the tissues around the vein, which is known as IV infiltration. This is a serious error that can lead to internal burn injuries and permanent tissue damage. Signs that indicate IV infiltration in a patient include:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Burning sensation
• Skin turning white or pale
• Blistering
• Burning sensation 
• Numbness or tingling (pins and needles sensation)
• Lower body temperature
• Pain / sensitivity at the site of insertion

It’s unreasonable to expect perfection from doctors and other people in the healthcare industry. Mistakes can happen to anyone, no matter the level of education and experience. However, it’s unacceptable when a clinician fails to follow protocols and safety standards that are established by medical boards. When a healthcare provider’s conduct falls below a certain level of care and competence, they may be sued by a patient who is left with injuries or serious medical complications.

Below are some of the medical conditions that you can develop after an incident of IV infiltration:

• Necrosis that can lead to amputation
• Compartment syndrome 
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 
• Damage to the veins and arteries
• Air Embolism 
• Permanent nerve damage 
• Brain injury 
• Permanent paralysis from injury to the spinal cord
• Symptoms of an overdose 
• Potentially fatal infections 

The concept of medical malpractice is much more encompassing than a medical professional getting a diagnosis wrong or accidentally causing injury to a patient. Essentially, a healthcare provider must deviate from a certain standard of care in order to be guilty of medical malpractice.

Elements that must be established before you can go ahead with an IV drip injury malpractice lawsuit include:  

• A patient – clinician relationship existed between you and the person / entity you are suing, i.e., they owed you a duty of care.
• The doctor, hospital, etc., failed to meet professional standards that are expected of a healthcare provider under similar circumstances
• Because the healthcare provider breached their duty of care to you, injuries occurred which you would not have sustained otherwise.
• Due to the resulting injuries, you ended up with momentary losses and physical / emotional suffering.

Injuries during a medical procedure can happen for many reasons, including carelessness or inexperience by medical staff. However, preventing IV infiltration injuries to a patient involve relatively simple measures, such as:

• Using a catheter that’s the right size for the vein and substance that’s administered to the patient.
• Making sure to select a vein that is well-defined, prominent, and easy to access. Additionally, avoid using veins in the wrist, hand, or the cubital fossa, which is the triangular area located on the front surface of the elbow joint.
• To prevent any blood flow issues, make sure the catheter is firmly secure, but not overly tight.
• For babies and children, always use the smallest IV catheter based on their age and weight (for example, 24 or 26 gauge for infants)
• Consistent monitoring of the patient to see if there is redness, swelling, and other signs of IV infiltration.
• Check the IV line to ensure there is no backflow of blood, as it can indicate a loose connection, failure to flush the line properly, and other problems

The legal system in California provides victims with the following time limits if they wish to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit:

• 1 year from the discovery of an injury caused by a doctor / healthcare provider negligence
• Within 3 years or when you were injured

These are the general deadlines you need to be mindful of, but there are unusual circumstances that can affect how long you have to file a lawsuit for injuries caused by an IV drip. Because this is a rather complicated subject, we suggest that you give us a call and talk to one of our attorneys if you need information on the statute of limitations for a medical malpractice claim.

The lawyers of DTLA understand the challenges in proving a case of medical malpractice and obtaining the compensation you are entitled to. Our law firm has decades of experience in negligence lawsuits against healthcare providers throughout California, so you can count on us to provide you with skilled and effective representation.

From the moment you contact us, you will be covered by the Zero Fee Guarantee. That means you pay $0 out of pocket to hire a lawyer that can sue for injuries caused by an improperly administered IV drip. As part of your settlement, the other party includes the cost of legal services in the payment you receive from a successful claim. So, either we win your case and get paid by the party you are suing, or we make nothing at all.

Our legal team is waiting to hear your story and help you determine the best course of action. Contact our office and schedule a free case evaluation.

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