Could IV Errors Lead to Medical Malpractice Claims?

Scartelli Olszewski P.C.

According to the CDC, about 25% of American adults suffer from an intense fear of needles. Also known as trypanophobia, this condition can prevent some people from securing the necessary medical care.

More often than not, people don’t have anything to worry about when medical professionals use needles to provide injections. But unfortunately, studies have shown that intravenous errors have become increasingly common. These IV errors can lead to potentially serious health risks.

IV errors and medical malpractice claims have also become common. IV infiltration, in particular, can cause health complications and force people to take legal recourse through medical malpractice attorneys. Discover more below.

What Is IV Infiltration?

IV infiltration is far from the only IV error a medical professional can make. Other IV errors include:

Giving the wrong IV medication
Failing to prepare an IV properly
Choosing the wrong IV location

However, IV infiltration has turned into the biggest error of them all. One report revealed up to one in six people who receive IVs may see them fail because of IV infiltration. It’s no wonder why there has been such a large spike in lawsuits involving IV errors and medical malpractice.

IV infiltration occurs when a medical professional places the needle for a person’s IV into their vein, and it fails to stay put. This typically happens when:

An IV needle is inserted improperly
An IV needle is accidentally moved during treatment
An IV needle is set to administer medication at the wrong pressure

When IV infiltration happens, an IV needle will slip from its original position and begin sending medication into the tissues surrounding a person’s vein instead of the bloodstream. This can cause fluid to build up and possibly lead to complications like:

Nerve damage
Blood flow issues
Compartment syndrome
Severe scarring
Amputation

In rare cases, IV infiltration can even lead to death if it goes unnoticed for too long.

Can You File a Medical Malpractice Claim Over IV Infiltration?

You can file a medical malpractice claim if you were the victim of IV infiltration or another IV error. But before doing it, understand that you’ll need to prove negligence on the part of a medical professional to win your case.

Other aspects people must prove during lawsuits involving IV errors and medical malpractice include:

Showing a medical professional failed to meet the required standard of care
Highlighting the harm you suffered because of a medical professional’s shortcomings
Revealing the damages you hope to recover during a medical malpractice lawsuit

An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can evaluate your case and offer their legal opinion on how well it will hold up in court.

How Can You File a Medical Malpractice Claim Following an IV Error?

You can file a medical malpractice claim after a medical professional commits an IV error by contacting a trusted attorney. They should know the ins and outs of cases involving IV errors and medical malpractice.

A medical malpractice lawyer can take the following steps on your behalf:

Informing a medical professional about your intention to file a medical malpractice claim
Collecting evidence for your case, such as medical records
Filing the proper paperwork for your medical malpractice case in court

Contact Us To Learn More About Filing Cases Related to IV Errors and Medical Malpractice

Even a small IV error can take a big toll on your life. It can lead to suffering from constant pain or dealing with life-altering health complications, like permanent nerve damage and amputations.

Scartelli Olszewski, P.C., is here to help those wishing to file lawsuits involving IV errors and medical malpractice. Call us today at (570) 346-2600 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an attorney.