When you go to see a doctor or visit a hospital, you trust that the health care providers will be vigilant in keeping track of any allergies you have disclosed. If you or someone you know was harmed due to an allergic reaction caused by a medical professional’s error, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys can examine the facts of your case and determine the cause of your injury.
Drug allergies can result from virtually any type of drug, including over the counter medications or prescriptions. A drug or medication allergy takes place when an individual’s immune system reacts to a certain medication. The most common signs of a drug allergy are hives, rash, or fever. Some drug allergies can be life-threatening because they can send the patient into anaphylaxis – an acute allergic reaction that sends the body into shock. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something to which a person is allergic. Some common symptoms of anaphylaxis include a rapid, weak pulse, a skin rash, nausea, and vomiting.
Patients who come in for help assume that they will be given appropriate care for their medical concerns. When a medical professional administers a drug to which the patient is known to be allergic, it can be grounds for a medical malpractice claim. Similarly, a patient can take legal action against a medical professional who prescribes or administers a drug similar to one to which the patient is allergic. Lastly, a medical professional may also be liable if he or she fails to recognize that a patient is allergic to a medication once it is given.