According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 17,500 cases of bacterial meningitis in the United States every year. More than 13,000 of these cases will be in children between the ages of birth and two years old.
Meningitis may be confused with the flu because its symptoms are, at first, identical. However, if flu-like symptoms persist for more than one or two days, it is important to see a doctor right away to make sure nothing more serious is going on. When meningitis is detected early, simple antibiotics are generally sufficient as treatment. When a doctor fails to diagnose meningitis, the end result can be permanent neurological damage and even death.
When you or your child is suffering from flu-like symptoms, it is common to see a doctor. Listening to your concerns and fully assessing your condition, your doctor may feel it is appropriate to provide further testing to rule out potentially serious issues. Particularly with small children, additional testing should be a top priority for a doctor.
Many doctors, due either to inexperience or simple arrogance, never think to check for meningitis. Family physicians may ignore your concerns and tell you to go home, get rest, and wait for it to pass. Bacterial meningitis does not pass; it only becomes more serious.
A failure to diagnose bacterial meningitis is a clear form of medical malpractice. You deserve to be compensated for the increased damages your doctor’s negligence may cause.
The malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm DC have years of experience dealing with medical malpractice cases. When it comes to failure to diagnose, we work with a team of nationally recognized medical experts to carefully assess the extent of negligence that occurred. In addition, we have access to the knowledge and background of every attorney working within The Cochran Firm, a national law firm with more than 25 branches and some of the nation’s most admired and successful attorneys.
We will work closely with your family, paying attention to every aspect of your life that undiagnosed bacterial meningitis has impacted. We will hold negligent doctors and healthcare providers accountable, never backing down no matter how difficult the fight becomes. We will pursue every avenue of compensation, regardless of the power and intimidation of large medical corporations.
If you or a loved one has suffered the consequences of undiagnosed bacterial meningitis in Washington, D.C, Maryland, Northern Virginia, or surrounding areas, please contact the experienced failure to diagnose bacterial meningitis attorneys at The Cochran Firm DC to schedule a free initial consultation today.
