INFECTION FROM DOG BITE – LAWYERS MN SERIOUS INJURY
The Washington Post reported that a man was in a medically induced coma for 11 days after being bitten by a dog. His wife dropped him off at the hospital emergency room and went to park the car. She expected to join him in the waiting room. However, she was met by a nurse with an urgent message: The 50-year man had suddenly become unresponsive. They had been to the same emergency room the previous night because he had a fever and needed to be assessed; however, after five hours without being seen by a doctor, they left. Their plan was to return in the morning.
According to Becky, that was their first bad decision: a decision that left David battling a catastrophic illness that kills between 60 and 80 percent of its victims. David’s life was saved by the doctors, but several of his toes had to be partially amputated. In addition, he now suffers with profound permanent hearing loss.
At the Rochlin Law Firm, our top dog bite lawyers MN represent people bitten by a dog in Minnesota. Most of our dog attack bite cases involve compensation for a scar or reconstructive surgery. However, there is also the possibility of serious injury from infection after being bitten by a dog.
TREATMENT FOR DOG BITE
David was a marathoner. Three days before being hospitalized he had gone for a run after work. As usual, he took one of the family dogs. As he was returning home, one of his neighbor’s dogs attacked his dog. While trying to separate the animals, the neighbor’s schnauzer bit David on his thigh.
David cleaned the dog bite wound and applied anti-bacterial cream. Then, the following day, he sought his first treatment at an urgent care center. As a precaution, they gave him a tetanus shot for the dog bite. While the doctor also offered to prescribe antibiotic, he mentioned that only five percent of bites become infected.
As it turns out, this information was incorrect because the figure for dog bite infection is closer to 20 percent. David knew about the overuse of antibiotics and decided not to take them. The next day his temperature was 102.9, and the area around the bite was warm and swollen. He called a nurse, who advised the couple to go to the University Hospital E.R.
A triage nurse saw David. He said he needed treatment for a high fever, and that he’d had a flu shot (not a tetanus shot) two days earlier. Unfortunately, he failed to mention the dog bite. For the next three hours they waited to see a doctor. However, because the E.R. was so busy, Becky did not approach the registration desk or ask any questions. All the while, David’s vital signs were being taken regularly so they assumed there was no urgency.
HOW TO KNOW IF DOG BITE IS INFECTED
Just before midnight Becky spoke to the paramedic who was monitoring David and advised that they planned to go home and return in the morning. She said the paramedic told her, “I wouldn’t leave if my girlfriend had blood pressure like this.” They didn’t know what the paramedic actually meant. Becky remembers telling him, “But you guys aren’t doing anything,” and exhausted, the couple left.
The following morning the couple drove back to the hospital. David seemed worse, but he was able to get into the car. At the hospital he was loaded into a wheelchair by Becky and an E.R. aide. When Becky rushed back into the hospital, David was lying on a gurney with his eyes closed: he was clearly out of it. In fact, his fingernails blue, a sign of shock. She also told hospital staff that David had no spleen, which meant he was especially vulnerable to infection [such as from a dog bite like this case].
LIFE THREATENING INFECTION FROM DOG BITE
Doctors began frantically trying to save David’s life, at risk because of infection from the dog bite. His breathing was labored and his kidneys were failing. A head scan showed that he probably had meningitis, which had invaded his bloodstream and caused septic shock.
The specialist who eventually identified the cause of David’s illness was called in on the sixth of David’s 51-day hospitalization. He said the ICU team mentioned the dog bite, but said the wound didn’t look bad. But Dr. Forster was concerned because dog bite wounds don’t necessarily show signs of infection. Tests on David’s blood cells confirmed his suspicion.
TREATMENT FOR DOG BITE INFECTION
Because of the infection from the dog bite, David was in a medically induced coma for 11 days. Then, he faced many months of recovery, punctuated by setbacks. Due to the infection, he lost part of three toes and required a cochlear implant to mitigate the deafness caused by his illness. According to Forster, the antibiotics declined by David following the dog bite could have prevented sepsis. He also believes that David’s case highlights the need of having front-line providers being aware of rare infections.
While Becky and David are deeply grateful to the doctors who saved David’s life, they hope their story reinforces the importance of improving communication in emergency departments. And Becky is still upset that David’s illness after being bitten by a dog was not addressed during his first E.R. visit.
Last year, David and Becky met with hospital officials to discuss ways to improve communication. The hospital administrator said they’ve looked at David’s case in detail, and, as a result, a physician is now part of the triage team during the busy afternoon and evening shifts. In addition, a tracking board displays patients’ vital signs.
DOG BITE LAWYERS MN
If you have been bitten by a dog and acquire an infection because of the dog bite in MN, please call our office and speak with an attorney for a free consultation. Our best lawyers have more than 25 years’ experience. We have successfully represented hundreds of people with dog bite and other injury cases. A dog bite attorney MN can meet with you at our office in Edina, Minneapolis or Woodbury. Our top rated dog bite lawyers also make house calls to St. Paul, Maplewood, Eagan, South St. Paul, New Hope, Golden Valley, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Champlin, Anoka, and other cities throughout MN.