Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
A new study has examined the prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and has found that it is more prevalent and more deadly than previously thought. According to a new study, reported in The Independent and Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, about 1000 people a month, on average, die due to this preventable injury. In many cases, acute kidney injury is caused by problems in hospital care or caused by medical malpractice in Homestead and other cities.
Acute kidney injury results in fast decline of kidney function. Left untreated, it can lead to organ failure and fatality. The condition can develop as a result of damage to the kidney tissue or decreased blood flow to the kidneys. It can result due to inflammation, ingestion of a toxic substance, crush injury, urinary tract obstruction, or other causes. In a hospital or long-term care facility, it can occur due to medical error or medical neglect in Homestead or other cities. For example, a patient may be showing signs of infection but may not be treated in time or may be given the wrong medication, leading to the condition. Pharmacy negligence in Homestead and other cities can also lead to acute kidney injury as well as other complications.
It is important to detect and treat AKI injury quickly to prevent kidney failure and fatalities. Caught early, AKI can be managed with fluids, renal replacement therapy, diuretics, and medication. The aim is to help patients recover kidney function. In some cases, however, the AKI cannot be treated entirely and patients have their kidney function permanently damaged. In these cases, kidney transplant or dialysis treatment may be needed. Patients who need dialysis due to AKI may need it for the rest of their lives and patients who have experienced permanent damage as a result of kidney injury may have a shorter life expectancy as well.
Since kidney injury is so serious, it is not surprising that it is also extremely expensive for patients. In 2011, these injuries resulted in 498,000 hospitalizations and $4.7 billion in medical costs, up from 98,000 hospitalizations in 1997. For patients who have suffered this type of personal injury in Homestead or another Florida community, the costs can be considerable and medical insurance may cover only some of the hospital and medical bills. For someone who has sustained permanent kidney injury, lifelong higher medical costs are often a real concern. If the kidney injury was caused by misdiagnosis, medical malpractice, or medical neglect, however, it is possible for the patient to pursue a legal claim in order to seek compensation for these costs.
If you have suffered a medical complication such as acute kidney injury or another injury, it is important to get answers. The attorneys at Flaxman Law Group offer free accident consultations to all new clients, so if you have been injured you can always contact the full service law firm for a free case review. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of combined trial experience and are proud to serve Miami-Dade County, South Miami Heights, Broward County, Palm Beach County, and surrounding South Florida areas.