In certain situations, a person may be unable to breathe on his or her own, which requires a doctor to intubate a patient. Intubation is a procedure where a clinician inserts a tube down a patient’s airway and connects it to a ventilator. While this is a very common procedure, patients can be injured during the insertion, maintenance, or removal, which may give rise to a claim of action. Common intubation errors include:
- Improperly inserting or placing the tube in the patient’s airway;
- Improper evaluation of a patient’s need to be intubated;
- Perforation of the patient’s airway;
- Failing to timely intubate;
- Improper training;
- Improper or aggressive handling; and
- Failing to monitor the ventilator.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), there are errors in approximately 25 percent of attempted intubations. In New York State, a victim of an intubation error may be entitled to recover damages if the error resulted from negligence and caused harm. When a healthcare provider fails to meet the appropriate standard of care, an injured patient may be eligible to seek compensation for their injuries. This may include compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses;
- Pain and suffering;
- Rehabilitation; and
- Lost wages, among others.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of an intubation error, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to pursue the compensation you may be entitled to. Goldberg Sager & Associates has experience handling personal injury cases involving negligence and is dedicated to helping clients achieve the best possible outcome. Contact the attorneys at Goldberg Sager & Associates at 718-645-6677 for a free phone consultation.
