Before administering treatment or medication, it is critical for doctors to account for patient allergies. While situations vary, failure to do so can lead to acute injuries or life-threatening emergencies.
Allergies occur when the body’s immune system reacts to specific food, drugs or foreign substances, such as dust mites, molds or pollen. Unfortunately, healthcare providers may neglect their duty of care, directly harming the patient.
Allergic reactions can be a deadly form of medical malpractice
Patients can suffer from medical malpractice if physicians, nurses or staff members fail to properly diagnose, treat or manage allergic reactions through the following:
- Failing to take a comprehensive medical report, including family medical history, or not thoroughly going through a patient’s medical chart
- Incorrectly reading a prescription or misinterpreting the doctor’s notes
- Delayed injecting of epinephrine as an antidote, especially in case of an anaphylactic shock
- Inadequately observing a drug prescription’s effect or insufficiently monitoring patient activity to avoid exposure to allergens
Without urgent medical intervention, patients can experience breathing problems, infections and long-term cardiac complications, such as arrhythmias or heart failure. In the worst cases, families may also face a loved one’s death.
Suing for allergic reaction injuries or deaths
Medical errors can cause significant harm that can kill patients. However, filing a medical malpractice claim per New Mexico law can be complex. Thus, a legal team can help ensure accurate and timely processing. They can guide patients and surviving family members in collecting proof to support their case. Doing so can be a step in the right direction to hold parties liable and recover fair compensation to pay for bills and other losses.