Baltimore Burn Injury Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Holding Hospitals Accountable for Preventable Burn Injuries in Baltimore, MD

Every year, there are more than 400,000 emergency department visits for burns across the United States. The costs of treatment for burn victims can range into the hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient. In addition, burn victims can experience horrific physical pain and suffering, not to mention emotional, psychological, and social harm, especially for children and young adults.

In some cases, burns can occur while patients are receiving medical treatment. When this happens, patients will want to understand what happened and who was responsible. The medical malpractice attorneys at Silverman Thompson can assist with these cases, helping burn victims address the harm they have suffered and recover compensation for their damages. We fight to protect our clients' rights and make sure they will be able to recover from these devastating situations.

Burn Injuries in Hospitals or Medical Facilities

A patient may suffer burns while under anesthesia in the operating room. Burns may be caused by electrocautery devices, which are instruments that can reach several hundred degrees. Lasers create small areas of intense heat that can burn through almost anything in their path. They may ignite things such as surgical tubes, clothing, patient hair, and swabs. These devices form part of a trifecta of elements needed for a flash fire: oxygen, a fuel source (alcohol prep), and an ignition source (the electro-cautery device).

Fire hazards have increased in hospitals due to the use of items such as disposable drapes, antiseptic skin agents, and gowns. The American Society of Anesthesiologists has extensive guidelines and information concerning operating room fires. They analyze each of the elements' trifecta and discuss checklists, training, risk assessment, and management to prevent fires.

There are also a variety of other less obvious substances that can cause fires, including the Dermabond glue used in the harvesting of skin grafts and gastrointestinal gases. Hydrogen and methane gases are also extremely flammable gases that can be produced by bacteria in the intestinal tract. When these areas are operated upon and gases are released, an electrosurgical unit or laser can ignite a fire or cause an explosion. Although there is the risk of fire in an oxygen-rich operating room, there are steps a hospital can and should take to reduce those risks.

Representation for Clients Injured by Burns While Receiving Medical Treatment

Our medical malpractice and personal injury team routinely and successfully handles cases in which our clients have sustained serious burn injuries. For example, our team represented the family of a woman who suffered extensive burns and later died when her home hospital bed malfunctioned, caught fire, and burned her house down.

In addition, we resolved a medical negligence case against a doctor in which our client suffered serious surgical burns after she caught fire while she was being operated upon. In that case, our team was able to demonstrate that the burn injuries not only resulted in tremendous pain, suffering, and emotional distress (along with significant medical care and bills), but also that they resulted in the need for a lifetime of care. Finally, our lawyers have handled cases in which the care and treatment that a client received for their burn injuries was inadequate or fell below what is called the "standard of care," resulting in increased injuries and even death.

Contact Our Baltimore, Maryland Medical Malpractice Lawyers for Burn Injuries

When burns affect patients due to negligence by medical professionals, the lawyers at Silverman Thompson can provide the representation needed to protect our clients' rights. We are prepared to advocate for full compensation for injury victims, and we will fight to ensure that patients will be able to move forward after suffering harm due to burns. Andrew G. Slutkin and Ethan S. Nochumowitz can provide effective legal representation in these cases. Contact our Baltimore medical burn injury attorneys and arrange a free consultation by calling 410-385-2225.