Maryland Child Injury Caused by Lack of Needed Antibiotic Treatment
As Washington, DC medical malpractice attorneys, we are constantly reviewing published guidelines that affect patient well-being. One area of concern has been the use of antibiotics for children. Due to guidelines of professional associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, many sick children are forced to delay or even forego antibiotic medication. Going without antibiotics is justified if the symptoms diminish or disappear and the child is doing well without antibiotics. In some instances, however, the delay in treatment is not justified, and a serious bacterial infection is allowed to progress to the point of causing permanent injuries.
Many ailments, such as meningitis and pneumonia, can be caused by either viruses or bacteria. Unlike viral illnesses, bacterial infections are not self-limiting. Without antibiotic medication, many persons with bacterial infections will suffer severe harm and die. Common infections caused by bacteria include strep throat and urinary tract infections. While it is true that indiscriminate use of antibiotics has helped create strains of bacteria that are resistant to treatment, many infections that require antibiotic medication are not properly treated and are negligently allowed to progress unchecked.
If a child has suffered serious consequences from late detection of a bacterial infection and not being started on antibiotics, the child's medical records need to carefully evaluated. We represented the parents of a 13 year old girl who was in a boarding school, had an infection, was told it was a viral infection, and developed severe heart valve disease with need for surgery to replace several heart valves. Our expert physician and team of lawyers investigated the case history carefully and found that the patient had signs and symptoms of scarlet fever, including skin manifestations which were missed by school physicians who failed to take into account the child's African-American heritage. We successfully represented the family in an action against the healthcare providers and were able to obtain a settlement prior to trial to compensate our clients for the serious damages they sustained due to the failure to diagnose their child's condition and provide timely antibiotic treatment.
Gerard Mitchell
Michael Cohen
Laurie Amell
