Personal Injury Law

Negligent Doctors Give Patient Medication From Wrong Syringe

By Steven M. Levin and John J. Perconti

Justice News Flash reported yesterday on a new medical malpractice lawsuit involving a syringe mix-up.

Kimberlee Blocker underwent a surgical procedure at Forbes Regional Hospital. The surgery itself proceeded according to plan, but afterwards the doctors informed her that they had made a mistake. An error had occurred when the medical professionals had given Kimberlee medication following the procedure. For unknown reasons, a different patient?s syringe had been used on Kimberlee, instead of the one that had been actually set aside for her. As a result, Kimberlee was given the wrong medication and may have been exposed to blood-borne diseases.

As a result of the preventable medical mistake, Kimberlee was forced to undergo six months of testing to ensure that she did not contract HIV, hepatitis, or other problems. Of course, the long-delayed process of testing is an arduous experience for patients and their families. The emotional stress of repeatedly waiting to see if a potentially deadly disease has been contracted is something that everyone would wish to avoid.

Unfortunately, these preventable medical mistakes occur all the time. Our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers at Levin & Perconti have fought legal battles on behalf of patients who have suffered severe physical injury and death because of basic errors caused by medical professionals. From operating on the wrong body part to using the wrong IV line to inject medication, negligent medical professionals across the country continue to claim lives with their mistakes. It is imperative for all victims to step forward to help put a spotlight on the problem of costly hospital errors.

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on September 05, 2010 (boomark / email).