A bowel obstruction can become a medical emergency without prompt diagnosis and treatment. Delayed care may lead to tissue damage, infection, peritonitis, sepsis, organ failure, or death. Our Tucson personal injury lawyers can investigate whether negligent medical care contributed to these complications.
If you or a family member was harmed after a healthcare provider failed to diagnose a bowel obstruction, call the Mercaldo Law Firm at (520) 624-1400 or contact us online for a free consultation.
When Failure to Diagnose a Bowel Obstruction Becomes Medical Malpractice
A bowel obstruction may remain undiagnosed despite examinations by an emergency room physician, primary care provider, radiologist, or surgeon. A delayed diagnosis does not automatically constitute malpractice, but our Tucson medical malpractice attorneys can investigate whether a provider failed to order appropriate tests, recognize warning signs, or provide timely treatment.
Severe complications may include intestinal perforation, tissue death, peritonitis, sepsis, kidney damage, and multi-organ failure. If the delay causes permanent harm, the claim may involve damages commonly associated with a catastrophic injury.
Symptoms and Warning Signs of a Bowel Obstruction
According to MedlinePlus, symptoms of an intestinal obstruction may include severe abdominal pain or cramping, vomiting, bloating, abdominal swelling, constipation, and an inability to pass gas. Symptoms can vary depending on whether the blockage is partial or complete.
How Doctors Diagnose
A physician who suspects the presence of an obstruction should conduct an abdominal X-ray and CT scan to determine the problem’s source and determine if the blockage is partial or complete. An ultrasound can also be used to help diagnose an intestinal obstruction, you can read more from Mayo Clinic here.
Contact The Mercaldo Law Firm
The attorneys you should speak with about your Arizona or San Diego doctor’s failure to diagnose bowel obstruction is The Mercaldo Law Firm. Call or e-mail the Mercaldo Law Firm today. Your initial consultation is free of charge! We will promptly return messages left after hours the following business day. Evening appointments are available upon request.