Meningitis Attorneys
For over 40 years, the personal injury attorneys with Goren, Goren & Harris have fought for the victims of medical negligence, including several settlements for meningitis victims. In selecting an attorney to represent you If you or a loved one have suffered injuries from a delayed diagnosis of meningitis, our spinal meningitis lawyers may be able to recover money for you.
Our Experience Counts. Recent recoveries for our clients include:
- $1.7 MILLION recovery for a 6-hour delay in starting antibiotics in a newborn suffering from Group B strep meningitis.
- $1.2 MILLION recovery against an Emergency Room for failing to diagnosis meningoccocemia meningitis in a 2-year-old.
- $575,000 recovery for causing the need for a VP shunt in a 5-year-old child inadequately treated for meningitis
What are the symptoms of meningitis and how is it diagnosed?
Meningitis can present in many ways. Sometimes it is a slowly progressing disease. Other times, it can strike in hours. Especially in children under two years old, a doctor must be very careful and maintain a high degree of suspicion. Fever can be an important sign. However, it is also not very specific. Many diseases create a fever and sometimes meningitis presents without a fever. Blood tests may help the diagnosis. Also, symptoms may include drowsiness, confusion, headaches, or vomiting. Meningitis can cause seizures. It can cause irritability, and a lack of appetite. In young babies, the soft spot on the top of the head may become hard and bulge out. After the first year or so, it can also create a stiff neck. Confusion may be present in older children.
If there is a suspicion of meningitis, a spinal tap is needed to test the spinal fluid for signs of infection.
How is meningitis treated?
For bacterial meningitis, treatment requires the rapid administration of high-powered antibiotics. Time is of the essence. Generally, oral antibiotics are not strong enough to be effective, but may cause the symptoms to be less pronounced and the course of the disease to be somewhat slower. Advanced bacterial meningitis can lead to brain damage, coma, and death. Survivors can suffer long-term complications, including hearing loss, mental retardation, paralysis, and seizures.
What are the key legal issues?
- Was there undue delay before giving the proper antibiotics?
- Even if there was an undue delay, did it make a difference in the outcome?
Resolution of these two key questions generally requires the careful review of the patient’s medical records by one or more qualified medical specialists.
Seeking Legal Advice?
The Meningitis Diagnosis Delay Attorneys at Goren, Goren & Harris, P.C. have years of experience dealing with medical malpractice issues, and has recovered substantial amounts of money for people whose doctors failed to treat symptoms of meningitis properly.
Do you have more questions? Would you like to discuss your situation with us? Contact us toll-free at 1-800-6700-LAW or fill out the form on the right. We want to help.