Chicago IV Infiltration Attorney
Many patients who receive inpatient or outpatient treatment or care for a variety of procedures, from diagnostic tests to surgeries, receive intravenous therapy (IV). Given how common IVs are, many patients do not think about risks of injury. Yet when an IV is improperly administered, or when a healthcare provider makes an error in administering or removing an IV, the patient can suffer serious injuries. One type of IV-related injury is known as IV infiltration. This type of problem often results from a healthcare provider’s negligence, and it may be possible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. An experienced Chicago IV infiltration attorney at our firm can discuss your case with you today.
What is IV Infiltration in Chicago?
What is IV infiltration? According to AMN Healthcare Education Services, “IV infiltration is one of the most common problems that can occur when fluid infuses into the tissues surrounding the venipuncture site.” There are multiple different potential causes for IV infiltration, including but not limited to the following:
- Tip of the catheter for the IV slips out of the patient’s vein;
- Catheter passes through the wall of the patient’s vein; or
- Blood vessel wall problem that results in IV fluid leaking into the patient’s surrounding tissue.
Every healthcare facility should have specific policies in place for IV therapy, including protocols to prevent and manage IV infiltration. Once an IV has been placed, healthcare providers should monitor the site and frequently assess the patient for risks of IV infiltration. When IV infiltration does occur, or if a healthcare provider has concerns that the IV has become infiltrated, the IV should be relocated quickly.
Complications of IV Infiltration in Chicago
What types of injuries and complications are most common when IV infiltration occurs, or when an infiltrated IV is not managed properly by a healthcare provider? Any of the following injuries can occur as a result of an infiltrated IV, and a healthcare provider or the facility itself could be liable for damages:
- Blistering and scarring at the site;
- Nerve damage;
- Vein rupture; and
- Nerve damage.
Common Damages in a Hospital IV Infiltration Lawsuit in Chicago
What types of damages can you seek in a hospital IV infiltration claim? Generally speaking, medical malpractice damages can include economic and non-economic damages, which can include the following:
- Hospital bills;
- Costs of further medical appointments and treatments;
- Prescription medication costs;
- Pain and suffering; and
- Disfigurement.
All of these damages are “compensatory damages,” which means that they are designed to compensate the patient for losses sustained as a result of the healthcare provider’s negligence. While some states place what is known as a “cap” on non-economic damages for pain and suffering and other related losses, there are no medical malpractice damages caps in Illinois. As such, a patient will be able to receive a full damages award.
Contact Our IV Infiltration Lawyers in Chicago
If you were injured because of an infiltrated IV, our Chicago medical negligence lawyers can discuss the possibility of filing a lawsuit with you today. Contact Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC for more information.