ENT / Otolaryngologist Malpractice

Otolaryngology is a medical specialty involving diagnosis, treatment, and management of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders and diseases. Often otolaryngologists are called ENT physicians. Any issues that arise in the ear, nose, or throat can result in serious injuries or even death because these areas are close to the brain. Therefore, it is critical for ENT doctors to be very careful. If you suspect that you were injured or a loved one was killed due to ENT/otolaryngologist malpractice, you should consult the experienced Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano.

Otolaryngologists or ENT doctors diagnose and manage issues related to not only the ear, nose and throat, but also the voice box, sinuses, mouth, and facial and neck structures. Otolaryngologists specialize in treating ear disorders, ear noise, cranial nerve disorders, hearing loss, and congenital disorders of the inner and outer ear. They also look at chronic sinusitis, nasal cavity problems, allergies, smell disorders, nasal obstruction, and polyps. They also look at speech, singing, swallowing, and voice disorders. They are trained to diagnose and treat cancers infections, tumors, deformities, and facial trauma. However, they also perform elective cosmetic surgeries.

Generally ENT doctors spend 15 years in combined college and post-graduate training. They usually have a minimum of five years of specialty training and sometimes they also pursue one or two-year fellowships in a subspecialty. They must pass the American Board of Otolaryngology examination. Subspecialties include sleep, rhinology, pediatric otolaryngology, otology, laryngology, head and neck, allergy, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. ENT doctors have both medicine and surgery training.

If your ENT doctor makes a mistake that causes you injuries, you may have a malpractice claim. You will need to show: (1) a doctor-patient relationship, (2) your ENT physician's conduct breached the professional standard of care, (3) actual and proximate causation, and (4) actual damages. For example, if your ENT fails to order tests such as a CT scan or MRI when the symptoms could be reflective of more than one medical condition, this may be a breach of the professional standard of care. Similarly, if an ENT failed to make an appropriate diagnosis and as result your loved one suffered from the metastasis of cancer and brain damage, this may be a breach of the professional standard of care.

An ENT doctor's failure to take an appropriate patient history, failure to order the necessary tests such as a CT scan or MRI, conduct a differential diagnosis, or inappropriate treatment can result in serious injuries or death. ENT malpractice can also involve failure to accurately interpret a study, failure to order a biopsy, failure to perform surgery, or failure to timely diagnose or treat a patient's condition.

If you bring a negligence claim with the help of a medical malpractice lawyer, you will need to retain an expert to review your medical records and determine what the professional standard of care was under the circumstances. An expert will also need to offer opinions about whether there was a breach of the professional standard of care and whether it caused your injuries. Usually the expert will also be an otolaryngologist.

Damages you may be able to recover as a result of an ENT's breach of the professional standard of care in diagnosing, monitoring, or treating you can include both economic and noneconomic losses. They may include coverage for medical bills, lost wages, household services, out-of-pocket costs, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been injured due ENT/otolaryngologist malpractice, you are likely facing significant expenses in addition to coping with physical or emotional pain. Our knowledgeable malpractice lawyers may be able to help you sue to recover damages for your losses. DeFrancisco & Falgiatano represents injured patients in Syracuse, Rochester, Lyons, Ithaca, Cooperstown, Oswego, Canandaigua, Utica Wampsville, Oneida, Lowville, Watertown, Herkimer, Delhi, Cortland, Norwich, Elmira, Auburn, and Binghamton. Call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us via our online form.