Blog | Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd

Mistakes, such as improper intubation, when made by medical care providers can mean serious, long term harm, even death for patients. If you or a loved one has been injured by a medical care provider, you or your loved one could be entitled to recover monetary compensation for your expenses, injuries, and suffering. The experienced and compassionate Chicago-based medical malpractice lawyers at the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. will work with you to determine the best way to handle your medical malpractice claim. Contact us for a free consultation with one of our experienced medical negligence attorneys in Chicago, Illinois.

Intubation Procedure

If you have spent any time watching medical dramas on television you have probably seen a dramatization of a patient being intubated. Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is a medical procedure that places a tube in a patient’s throat to create an unobstructed pathway to allow breathing. This can be done to help a patient’s respiration during surgical procedures, or sometimes at the scene of a medical emergency when someone’s throat has been injured due to some form of trauma.

The process of performing an endotracheal intubation is relatively straightforward for properly trained and equipped medical personnel. First, the patient is placed with the neck flexed so that the throat is as straight as possible. Then the doctor or EMT uses a tool called a laryngoscope to hold open the mouth and move the tongue out of the way so that they have unobstructed access to the airway. They then raise the handle portion of the laryngoscope so that the patient’s vocal cords become visible.

Once the vocal cords are visible, the doctor or EMT inserts an endotracheal tube, a plastic tube with an inflatable cuff circling one end, down the throat until the inflatable cuff is just below the vocal cords. After the tube has been situated, the laryngoscope is removed and the cuff is inflated, preventing the tube from accidentally being dislodged from the patient.

In order to determine that the endotracheal tube has been placed correctly, the doctor or EMT will check to see that there appears to be movement of the chest, and that breathing sounds are detected from both lungs.

When Injuries Happen

While inserting an endotracheal tube would seem to be a fairly technically straightforward procedure, there are some potential issues that can arise, such as perforation of the vocal chords, larynx, or esophagus, and potential damage to the teeth and soft tissue of the mouth. The most serious complication, however, is if the endotracheal tube is accidentally inserted into the esophagus, which can result in the attending medical staff thinking the patient is getting sufficient air when they actually are not. This can lead to oxygen deprivation and brain damage if it is not caught quickly and corrected.

Because of this and other possible complications such as potential infections and delays in transporting patients to a hospital, there is a discussion in the medical community about whether or not endotracheal intubation should be performed by paramedics outside of a hospital setting. It should be pointed out, however, that no generally-accepted consensus has been reached on this matter, and endotracheal intubation remains a valid practice by emergency medical technicians in the field, particularly in patients who have had a heart attack or suffered burns to the airway.

Take Action

The Dinizulu Law Group,Ltd. is a personal injury firm in Chicago with a reputation for tough litigation and winning substantial compensation for clients. With over 60 years of combined experience, our medical malpractice and negligence attorneys have a strong record of getting medical care providers held accountable. We fight for the maximum compensation and get the injured the relief they need. Contact us for a free consultation.

By taking action, not only might you be able to recover compensation for yours or your loved one’s needs, but you will prevent bad medical care from harming other patients.

It’s winter weather and holiday driving can be hazardous on icy roads and skid-prone conditions. Add trucks and semitrailers to the mix and an accident is much more severe when a large vehicle loses control on the road.

When a truck collides which a smaller passenger vehicle, a disastrous injury occurs more often to the occupants of the other smaller vehicle. To protect all drivers, in 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed and adopted a rule requiring Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to be utilized in large trucks. ELDs are akin to those black boxes you hear about in planes, which help investigators understand how and why an accident happened. Similarly, ELDs in commercial trucks electronically record data from a vehicle’s sensors which can be subsequently downloaded.

Currently, much of a truck driver’s accountability stems from his or her own written records, but the ELDs will ensure that the truck driver can not cheat the system or inadvertently make a mistake. ELDs record speed, when the truck is in motion and other significant pieces of data.

The Trucking Industry Must Utilize ELDs by December 16, 2019

Although the ELD rule was adopted in 2014, the FMCSA understands that changes do not happen overnight. Accordingly, the trucking industry was given a grace period to incorporate the rule into practice and during that period, records could be kept through paper logs, logging software, automatic onboard recording devices or appropriately registered ELDs. The grace period ends December 16, 2019 and on that date, all drivers subject to the rule must use certified and registered ELDs.

While there are exceptions to the rule, in general if the truck driver was originally required to provide logs showing their hours of service then they are subject to the ELD requirement. While some drivers have met this new requirement with skepticism, the FMCSA maintains that ELDs will reduce risk of accidents and will also allow for a more streamlined collection of data.

ELDs can Help Answer Questions About Liability in a Trucking Accident

The ELDs will play an important role in the legal arena, as well. If you or a loved one is injured in a trucking accident, then you will have to prove that the truck driver acted wrongfully in some way. Maybe they were driving too fast, or perhaps they were drowsy. Truck drivers, their employers and their insurance companies oftentimes have a team of lawyers helping them avoid liability and so it is imperative that you also obtain a personal injury attorney right away.

Obtaining evidence from an opposing party can be difficult and is often subject to strict court rules. During a time when you are already reeling from a terrible accident, it is advised that you seek professional legal help. You will need an accident attorney who not only understands the litigation process, but also acts as your advocate during a time when you need it most.

Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. always provides a free initial case evaluation and will help you pursue the necessary legal action if you have been involved in a truck wreck accident. Our experienced Illinois truck accident attorneys understand the importance of monetary justice when a victim is facing current and future medical bills in addition to being unable to work. A personal injury accident happens in an instant, but the effects can last a lifetime. Please contact us today to find out how we can help you.