Baltimore Coma Malpractice Lawyer

Trusted Legal Help for Coma Injury Victims in Baltimore, MD

The Mayo Clinic defines a coma as a state of prolonged unconsciousness. A coma can have a variety of causes, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, tumor, illness, or drug or alcohol use. While unconscious, the patient generally does not respond to stimuli (such as shining a light in the patient's eyes or pricking their extremities to get an involuntary response), and they do not make any voluntary actions.

When a person suffers a coma due to medical errors, or they do not receive the proper coma care at a medical facility, they or their families may be able to recover compensation for the harm they have suffered. At Silverman Thompson, our medical malpractice lawyers can provide representation for coma victims.

Understanding Comas

In some instances, coma patients may make verbal sounds, sudden movements, or even speak, but these actions are typically not voluntary. While most coma patients typically recover from their injuries within a few weeks, patients who are unconscious for longer than that may transition into a vegetative state that may last for months or even years, potentially resulting in brain death.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury resulting in a coma, you may have heard physicians utilize the phrase Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). That medical term is used by medical professionals to describe how "deep" the patient's coma is. The GCS measures how well patients respond to stimuli and tracks eye movement, responses to verbal cues, motor skills, and reflexes. The GCS scores patients on a scale of 1-15 across three categories: eye, verbal responses, and motor responses. The higher the score, the more functional the patient.

For example, a patient who is awake and responsive with no cognitive issues would receive a GCS of 15. Conversely, a patient in a very deep coma could be scored at 8 or lower. Calculating a patient's GCS is not only helpful for a physician in determining the extent of treatment a patient currently needs, but it is also a useful predictor in determining and preparing for the level of care a patient may require when they emerge from their coma.

Do You Have a Coma Malpractice Suit?

Coma malpractice may include:

• Making a mistake during surgery that causes a coma
• Anesthesia errors
• Over-medicating a patient
• Failure to diagnose/treat a stroke
• Failure to monitor/maintain blood pressure

Like all significant injuries and illnesses, issues that result in a coma can be tremendously difficult for family members who are close to the victim. Although the patient is alive, they are generally unresponsive, and it is difficult for physicians to accurately predict if or when the patient will recover, especially within the days and weeks following a traumatic brain injury. The cost of continuing to treat a comatose patient can also be tremendous.

Lastly, when a patient emerges from a coma, they will normally be transferred to an intensive care unit, and they may need long-term, round-the-clock medical care. The financial burden of providing care can result in economic hardship for the patient and their family. Patients can also experience coma-related problems after emerging from unconsciousness, such as memory loss and an inability to recognize family members. This can lead to additional emotional heartache and anguish.

Contact Our Baltimore Coma Injury Attorneys

When your family has been affected by injuries causing a coma, you will need to understand the role that medical negligence may have played in the situation. At Silverman Thompson, our team of medical malpractice attorneys, including Andrew G. Slutkin and Ethan S. Nochumowitz, can provide you with legal help as you address these issues. We will work to obtain fair compensation for coma-related injuries involving medical negligence. Contact our Baltimore, MD coma malpractice lawyers at 410-385-2225 to set up a free consultation.