Over 340,000 Americans are being treated for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), otherwise known as kidney failure. Of these, more than 240,000 receive some kind of dialysis treatment to perform the work of a functioning kidney.
Dialysis can be the only way a patient can sustain life until a kidney transplant becomes available, so dialysis errors are all the more tragic. It is critical to consult with a knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney if a dialysis error has occurred.
To begin exploring your legal options, contact our dialysis error attorneys today by completing the Free Case Review form to the right.
Types of Dialysis Treatment
There are two types of dialysis peritoneal and hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is the most common, with about 90 percent of patients receiving this kind of treatment.
Hemodialysis treatment uses a man-made dialyzer to filter wastes and remove extra fluid from the blood. It is typically performed by a trained health professional who can watch for any issues.
Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of the abdominal cavity and a solution to remove wastes and extra fluid from the body. Patients can perform this treatment on themselves, although it may be difficult for some and there is a high risk of infection in the lining of the stomach.
Common Dialysis Errors
Kidney failure is Americas ninth leading cause of death. Every year, Medicare spends close to $14 billion to support and treat ESRD.
Treatment for renal failure carries its own risks and patients should educate themselves on what these risks are.
There are thousands of incidents of dialysis malpractice that occur every year. Dialysis medical malpractice can involve:
- Medication errors
- Patient falls
- Vascular access-related events
- Dialyzer errors
- Excess blood loss and prolonged bleeding
- Dialysis machine leaks
- Malfunctioning machine alarms
- Improper responses to machine alarms
- Failing to clear dialysis machines of cleaning solutions
- Negligent cleaning and filtering of water system at the dialysis clinic
- Dialysate error
- Failing to monitor blood pressure and other vital signs
- Contamination of line or machinery causing bloodstream infections
Contact an Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
An important step towards full recovery after suffering from a dialysis error is to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney. If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical negligence, it is critical that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
With an office located in Knoxville, the lawyers at Greg Coleman Law are available to help Tennessee residents who have suffered harm from a dialysis error.
Our attorneys have won hundreds of millions of dollars in successful verdicts and settlements for our clients.
If you are unsure if you have reason to file a lawsuit, contact our firm to schedule a free, initial case evaluation. During a case evaluation, a member of our team of legal professionals will assess the merits of your claim and offer guidance on how to best pursue legal recourse for your losses.
We believe that every injury victim deserves access to legal counsel, regardless of their financial status, so we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that if you choose to hire our law firm, there is never any cost to you until we obtain a favorable outcome for your claim.
For more information on the legal rights which may be available to Knoxville dialysis error victims and their families or to schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation with a member of our legal team, please complete the Free Case Review form on this page.
