Improperly Performed Lumbar Puncture
Lawsuit Against Johns Hopkins Hospital | June 12th, 2018 – Baltimore City, Maryland
On June 12, 2018, WVFK&N attorneys Christopher Norman and Keith Forman filed a medical malpractice claim on behalf of a patient who suffered severe and extreme back and leg pain and impaired mobility as a result of an improperly performed lumbar puncture.
According to the complaint, the patient presented to the emergency department at Johns Hopkins Hospital at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2017 with complaints of dehydration, general weakness, vomiting, headache, and palpitations since being exposed outdoors the prior Sunday. She was then seen in the emergency department. An emergency department evaluation was completed and noted that the patient had a history of scoliosis. Eventually, a lumbar puncture was performed to evaluate for infection. The patient reported extreme pain in her back after the lumbar puncture but was nonetheless discharged home that day. The patient then presented to the emergency department several times over the following months and reported severe pain at the site of the lumbar puncture as well as pain shooting down her legs, and up into her neck.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants failed to completely and thoroughly evaluate the patient and performed an unnecessary lumbar puncture. The lawsuit further alleges that the defendants failed to adequately and appropriately obtain informed consent from the patient. As a direct and proximate result of the defendants’ negligence, the patient suffered spinal injuries, severe pain, impaired mobility, and impaired strength and will require significant medical care and treatment due to the effects of these injuries.
The action is pending in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland.
