Untimely or improper treatment of bacterial meningitis can lead to permanent brain damage or death. If you need legal advice about your options in the event of these severe but avoidable consequences, contact a knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney at the Pittsburgh law firm of Richards & Richards, LLP.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that line the spinal cord and brain. Left untreated, severe disability and even death can result from the swelling and hemorrhaging of brain and spinal cord tissues that can characterize this disease.
In an emergency room or family practice setting, a doctor’s first job is to rule out the life-threatening conditions that might be indicated by the patient’s symptoms. For people presenting with meningitis, these symptoms might include severe headache, stiff neck, rash, or hypersensitivity to bright light and loud sounds.
We can often prove that a doctor’s negligent failure to correctly diagnose the symptoms of bacterial meningitis, or at least order the tests necessary to achieve a correct diagnosis, was an important causal factor in the severe or fatal injuries that your loved one suffered.
Our familiarity with the standards of practice across a range of medical specialties can lead to the identification of cases where we can prove negligence. If we accept your case, our experience working with a network of outstanding consulting and forensic medical specialists can help you prove liability and recover the damages you need to help compensate for your loss.
We handle meningitis cases involving a failure to diagnose or a misdiagnosis of a patient’s original symptoms and cases, both on original presentation and where the infection was acquired in a hospital or other clinical setting. Many victims of this disease are children, teenagers or college students.
For a free consultation about our ability to offer effective client service in medical malpractice cases involving a failure to diagnose or treat bacterial meningitis, contact a lawyer at 412-261-2620.
