Gentamicin Poisoning & Injury
Gentamicin can completely or partially destroy the inner ear, or vestibular system. It is this destruction that leads, directly or indirectly, to most of the symptoms of gentamicin poisoning. Gentamicin can also cause kidney damage. As Orlando medical malpractice lawyers, we have seen terrible cases of gentamicin poisoning. Indeed, in one gentamicin poisoning case tried in Orlando, we obtained one of the largest verdicts in the United States.
The most common symptoms of gentamicin poisoning are ringing or hissing in the ears (tinnitus); bouncing vision (oscillopsia); difficulty with balance or walking; a sensation that the room is spinning (vertigo); and nausea. Individuals receiving gentamicin should be aware of these potential symptoms, so that they may report them to their healthcare providers immediately.
Sadly, physicians and nurses often dismiss complaints of “feeling dizzy” in gentamicin patients who are bed-bound to a condition known as orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is feeling faint when getting up from a lying position. It is due to blood pooling in the legs. Feeling faint, or being close to losing consciousness, is different than feeling dizzy, where the room spins, or where it is hard to keep balance when walking.
After leaving the hospital or being released by the home healthcare agency, the symptoms of gentamicin poisoning continue. Additionally, individuals often begin to suffer mental confusion, difficulty with short-term memory, and tiredness. In many cases, gentamicin poisoning and injury were caused by negligence on the part of a doctor, hospital, home health agency and/or pharmacist. That is why we will continue to seek just results for individuals who needlessly suffer from gentamicin poisoning and injury.
