If you or a loved one fell into a coma, or a persistent vegetative state, as a result of medical malpractice in Cleveland, you may be entitled to recover compensation for damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and reduced quality of life. Contact the attorneys at The Robenalt Law Firm, Inc. today for a free consultation to learn more.

What Is a Coma?

Medical News Today defines a coma as a state in which “the patient cannot be awakened and does not respond to pain, light or sound in a normal way.” They can, however, hear loved ones’ voices, according to a 2015 Northwestern University study.

Comatose patients sometimes need surgery to relieve brain swelling. “If the cause of the coma can be successfully treated, there is an excellent chance the patient will eventually awaken with no permanent damage,” Medical News Today said. “Unfortunately, if brain damage is severe, they may have long-term problems and disabilities, or might never wake up.”

What’s the Difference Between a Coma and a Vegetative State?

As Medical News Today stated, a coma lasts up to a few weeks. After that, the patient is said to be in a persistent vegetative state.

Unlike comatose patients, who can’t respond to external stimuli, persistent vegetative state patients can make facial expressions or even cry, per the Cleveland Clinic. But, said brainline.org, even though they may look at a person or an object, react to a noise, or make sounds such as moans, they cannot speak or follow directions.

Brainline provided the following comparison.

Comatose patients:

• Eye Opening – No
• Sleep/Wake Cycles – No
• Visual Tracking – No
• Object Recognition – No
• Command Following – No
• Communication – No
• Contingent Emotion – No

Vegetative state patients:

• Eye Opening – Yes
• Sleep/Wake Cycles – Yes
• Visual Tracking – No
• Object Recognition – No
• Command Following – No
• Communication – No
• Contingent Emotion – No

Medical Mistakes That Can Cause Comas

Many doctors have admitted that they’re human and that they make mistakes just like everyone else. Unfortunately, their errors or negligence sometimes result in death or a reduced quality of life. Examples of malpractice that have caused a coma include the following.

• Failure to Monitor a Patient’s Condition. A number of medical conditions, including stroke and cardiac arrest, can cause hypoxia, or a restriction in oxygen flow to the brain. Anesthesia complications could do the same, per Healthline. If doctors and other medical providers neglect to monitor a patient during surgery, he or she could suffer a shortage of oxygen that could cause a coma. According to one study, hypoxia often goes unnoticed in teaching hospitals.
• Failure to Diagnose or Treat a Medical Condition. Neglecting to diagnose a condition such as diabetes could result in the patient’s blood sugar skyrocketing. This could cause a stroke “because high levels of glucose in your blood can damage your blood vessels, making them harder and narrower and more likely to become blocked. If this happens in a blood vessel leading to your brain it could cause a stroke,” said the Stroke Association. A stroke could lead to a coma.

You May Be Entitled to Compensation – Let Us Fight for You

If you or a loved one suffered a coma while under the care of a doctor, surgeon, nurse, or other medical provider, you may be entitled to compensation for hospital bills, rehabilitation expenses, and lost wages, among other damages. Since Ohio law requires malpractice victims to file a lawsuit within two years of the coma or death, it’s important to contact a Cleveland coma attorney today, so he or she can review all of the evidence and build a strong case on your behalf. While based in Cleveland, we work with clients throughout Ohio, including in the Columbus, Akron and Toledo metro areas. For a free consultation, contact Tom Robenalt at 216-223-7535, trobenalt@robenaltlaw.com, or via our online form.