Medical Malpractice and Diverticulitis
Doctors and medical professionals are supposed to help people but when negligence occurs, it can cause devastating injuries. A medical malpractice attorney can help hold medical professionals responsible for their harmful actions and recover damages for victims.
When it comes to medical malpractice, diverticulitis is one condition that is sometimes overlooked or misdiagnosed. Although the early stages of diverticulitis are harmless, without treatment, it can cause serious health problems. At Younker Hyde Macfarlane, our attorneys are dedicated to obtaining the maximum compensation for victims of medical malpractice and diverticulitis in and around Salt Lake City, UT.
What Is Diverticulitis?
As people age, they may develop small, bulging pouches in the lining of their intestines. When diverticula are present, a person is said to have diverticulosis. Diverticulosis becomes diverticulitis once the diverticula become inflamed or infected.
During the early stages of diverticulosis, many people don't experience any symptoms and may not even know they have diverticula. When diverticulitis occurs, symptoms may range from mild to severe. Sufferers might experience varying degrees of:
- Abdominal pain alleviated by passing gas or having a bowel movement
- Bloody stool
- Changes in bowel movements
- Severe abdominal pain
- Fever
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Nausea or vomiting
Misdiagnosis and Failure to Diagnose
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor or other healthcare professional causes injury to a patient through negligence and deviating from medical standards. In regard to diverticulitis, medical malpractice may have occurred if the condition is misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.
For example, the symptoms of diverticulitis may be confused for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or a different disorder related to digestion, leading to a misdiagnosis. Alternatively, diverticulitis may go undiagnosed if a doctor fails to order tests, such as a CT scan or colonoscopy.
As a result of failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis diverticulitis, treatment for diverticulitis may be delayed or may not happen at all, putting patients at risk of serious infection and other adverse side effects such as:
- Perforated, or ruptured, bowel
- A serious infection called sepsis
- Hemorrhage
- Bowel obstruction
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
Clients at our Salt Lake City firm who have experienced these symptoms can attest to the seriousness of their effects.
Seek Compensation with a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
A misdiagnosis of diverticulitis can have substantial repercussions in several areas of your life. For some, surgery or an extensive hospital stay may be necessary to repair the damage caused by a failure or delay in treating diverticulitis.
Those who believe their complications from diverticulitis were the result of medical malpractice may seek compensation for their injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Contact the Attorneys at Younker Hyde Macfarlane
When seeking medical treatment, patients should be able to trust that they will receive a certain standard of care. When medical treatment falls below these standards as a result of a medical professional's negligence, there may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
If you live in or near Salt Lake City and would like to learn more about medical malpractice, please call (801) 335-7025 to contact us online to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys today.