What You Need to Know about the Flu and Proper Medical Care
It’s flu season. Statistics from the CDC state that 200,000 people are hospitalized because of the flu each year. The CDC recommends that people who are older than six months old receive a flu shot. Deaths associated with the flu can only be estimated each year since states are not legally required to report flu-related deaths to the CDC. From 2010 through 2014, the CDC reported estimates between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths.
Your Doctor Didn’t Provide Proper Care for the Flu
If you go to the doctor, urgent care, or the emergency room and get told that you’re not actually sick or if you’re admitted and discharged too soon without the proper care, you should contact Duffy & Duffy to discuss the facts surrounding what happened to you. Hospitals and doctors aren’t always legally liable for releasing someone who is sick.
When healthy patients get the flu, they often recover in a week or so without any medical intervention. Generally, if you test positive for the flu, the doctor tells you to treat your symptoms and may offer you Tamiflu if the flu was caught early enough.
Yet, there are patients who have chronic or serious health conditions or their age requires more intensive care for the flu. Without expert care, these patients could be at risk of complications that result in death. When hospitals or doctors do not take these issues seriously and the patient develops a serious complication or dies as a result, they may be held legally liable.
Medical Malpractice Is a Serious Offense
When it comes to patients who are seriously injured or who die because a healthcare professional did not follow the current medical standards for treating the flu, there may be a claim for medical malpractice. However, because each claim regarding improper care related to the flu is different, it is important that you talk with a lawyer at Duffy & Duffy to have your claim evaluated. Doctors and other medical professionals have a duty to act reasonably and appropriately when it comes to caring for their patients. That’s one reason why each claim must be evaluated. The flu may be a minor inconvenience for one person, but a life-threatening occurrence to someone else.
If it is determined by the court that you are the victim of medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, an inability to earn future wages, wrongful death, emotional distress, and the cost of continued care.
Know the Signs of the Flu
Because the flu can be life-threatening, it’s important that you know the signs.
- Body aches
- Fever
- Chill
- Cough (with or without phlegm)
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Fatigue
- Headache
Some people also experience nausea or vomiting as well as swollen lymph nodes.
If you have an underlying health condition, it’s important that you immediately seek medical care for the flu. However, regardless of your health, you should seek immediate medical care if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Your skin or lips have a blue tint
- Severe vomiting that results in dehydration
It’s important to stay hydrated and to watch for signs of pneumonia (one of the most common complications associated with the flu).
Duffy & Duffy Is On Your Side
If you experienced complications from the flu and believe that you received improper care from a healthcare provider, contact Duffy & Duffy. We will review your case and let you know if you have a viable claim for medical malpractice. Don’t wait. These claims are often time sensitive and should be filed right away. We help injured patients get the justice and compensation that they deserve.
