What to Do After PCA Pump Malfunctions Causing Brain Damage Hurt a Loved One: Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers
One of the most catastrophic types of personal injuries due to Oregon medical malpractice is brain damage. There are many forms of brain damage and there are many causes of brain damage. One unexpected but common cause of brain damage is due to an overdose of painkillers such as morphine. There are several possible ways how this could happen but a horrifying way is through a PCA pump malfunction causing brain damage. Our Oregon medical malpractice lawyers know how catastrophic this type of medical malpractice can be which could result in permanent brain damage or even wrongful death of an innocent victim.
What is a PCA Pump?
A PCA pump is a patient controlled analgesia pump. This is a device given to patients after certain surgeries, usually large surgeries that are incredibly painful. The device dispenses a certain amount of pain management drugs to a patient to help block pain. This is on an as-needed basis. The patient simply pushes a button and the painkiller is administered to help block pain. The painkiller is usually something very powerful like morphine.
PCA pumps have limits and controls. This means that a patient cannot keep hitting the button to get pain medication and after a certain number of clicks within a time period, the PCA pump will notify a nurse or doctor to get help.
How PCA Pumps Malfunction
PCA pumps can malfunction for several reasons. Most of the reasons are actually a product defect, but some reasons are due to errors setting up the device or putting the wrong or stronger medication into it. Some of the most common causes of PCA pump malfunctions include the following:
- Damage to the PCA pump in shipping or setting up
- Improper controls when a patient hits the button too much
- Pump boluses (large amounts of medication at once) as opposed to a slow drip
- Drip rate is too high
- Damage in the line to administer it
- Complications and drug interactions, including with blood thinners
- Overdosing
- Putting the wrong medication in
- Wrong patient set up with the pump
- PCA pumps that stop functioning properly and keep giving doses and
- Many other common causes.
PCA Pump Malfunctions Causing Brain Damage
An overdose of morphine is very dangerous and can result in catastrophic personal injuries. This includes brain damage. The brain damage due to the morphine overdose is due to the toxicity in the painkiller. This is because the painkiller causes a caustic environment. The types of brain damage that could occur include damage to nerves, vessels, and tissue itself. Tissue can actually become so damaged that it forms lesions which are areas of brain tissue that cease to work properly.
The repercussions of brain damage include the following:
- Headaches and migraines
- Being unable to concentrate
- Extreme pain and suffering
- Memory issues
- Coordination and lack of balance problems
- Mood changes or mood swings
- Behavioral issues
- Depression or anxiety
- Withdrawal, and
- Other cognitive damages.
Injured by a PCA Pump Malfunctions Causing Brain Damage? Ask Our Lawyers for Help
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.