When a family member suffers an unexpected and catastrophic brain injury in the healthcare system, the cause of the injury may not be readily apparent and healthcare providers may not provide full disclosure of the circumstances causing the injury. The various causes of brain injury are many, but examples of preventable medical errors that can lead to a catastrophic brain injury include:

• Failure to perform a timely emergency c-section when the fetal monitor shows objective signs of fetal distress​

• Failure to diagnose and treat cardiac or respiratory arrest in a timely manner

• Failure to diagnose and treat stroke in a timely manner

• Failure to diagnose and treat signs of elevated intracranial pressure

• Failure to start IV antibiotics promptly when bacterial meningitis is suspected

• Performing a lumbar puncture on a patient with signs of elevated intracranial pressure

• Failure to intubate to protect the patient's airway 

• ​Medication errors that severely lower blood pressure, heart rate, and/or respiration rate

• Medication errors in treating patients with hypertensive crisis and impaired kidney function that result in toxic levels of cyanide or thiocyanate

If you or a loved one have suffered a catastrophic brain injury due to medical malpractice, contact Bill Maddix, your Minnesota medical negligence lawyer, for a free consultation.