Radiation Burn Injury Lawyer Houston, TX
Radiation Burn Injury Lawyer Houston, TX
Radiation treatments have saved millions of cancer victims’ lives in Texas and across the country. But when mistakes are made by medical professionals, the patient can suffer severe burns and even permanent damage. Victims of radiation burns caused by medical malpractice may be entitled to financial compensation for the losses the injuries have caused. If you or a loved one has suffered radiation burns, contact the personal injury law firm of John K. Zaid & Associates to speak with a radiation burn injury lawyer Houston, TX clients recommend.
Radiation Burns
Medical malpractice is legally defined as an action or behavior by a medical professional that deviates from the standard of care, injuring the patient as a result. When the medical mistake involves giving the patient being exposed to too much, they can suffer from serious burns which are not only excruciatingly painful, but can also lead to life-threatening infections because of the patient’s cancer-weakened immune system.
When used properly, radiation therapy can literally save a patient’s life by sending beams of intense radiation energy into the tissue where the cancer is present. The radiation kills the cancer cells, stopping them from growing and spreading. Healthy cells are sometimes also affected by the radiation, but in most cases do not become permanently damaged. But when the radiation is not used correctly, these healthy cells can become damaged forever, as well as cause severe burns. Some of the more common types of radiation errors include:
- The wrong area is treated with the radiation
- The radiation is applied to tissues for too long a period of time
- One of the radiation medical professionals involved in the patient’s treatment fails to confirm the patient’s medical history or the correct dosage of radiation
- The radiation technician commits errors due to lack of training or inexperience
Proving Malpractice
So how does a burn injury lawyer Houston, TX families turn to prove that the victim has suffered radiation burns because of malpractice? The first step is determining which medical professional is responsible for the burns.
- The radiation oncologist: This is who determines how much radiation the patient is supposed to receive.
- The radiation physicist: This is who is responsible for making sure the radiation equipment has been calibrated correctly and that the machine will give the patient the exact dose prescribed by the oncologist.
- The radiation technician: This is who treats the patient with the radiation.
- The manufacturer of the radiation equipment: In some cases of radiation burns, it is a defect or some other issue with the equipment that delivers the radiation.
Let Our Firm Help
When a medical doctor or other professional is negligent in their care or treatment of the patient and this negligence causes harm, the patient may be able to recover damages for that harm. If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical negligence, contact John K. Zaid & Associates to speak with a radiation burn injury lawyer in Houston, TX, and find out how we can help.