Gentamicin is an antibiotic given to patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical institutions to help battle serious infection. It is a powerful antibiotic from the aminoglycoside family and is particularly efficient at combating the growth of bacteria that causes infections like MRSA.

Gentamicin is generally delivered intravenously to allow for safe levels of dosage. However, is with any medical treatment, mistakes can occur and if too much of the antibiotic is delivered it can lead to gentamicin poisoning (otherwise known as gentamicin toxicity), either through extended periods of treatment or overdose.

Symptoms & Side Effects

When a mistake is made, gentamicin proves to be ototoxic and / or nephrotoxic. This can lead to the following:

Kidney damage and renal failure

Ototoxicity, including loss of hearing, vertigo and tinnitus

Problems with balance

Memory loss, fatigue and trouble concentrating

Bouncing vision (Oscillopsia)

Over recent years equally powerful but less toxic antibiotics have been discovered and are becoming more widely used, though gentamicin is still used in many hospitals and healthcare institutions.

Patients who have been treated with the antibiotic and believe they be suffering some of the symptoms of gentamicin toxicity could be due compensation if medical negligence can be proved.

Patients should ask themselves if they have suffered a fall after treatment, a loss of hearing, trouble with memory and / or concentration, a loss performance at work, difficulty driving, especially at night, or any other symptoms that could fall under similar side effects. If the answer is yes, it needs to be determined if they have suffered from gentamicin poisoning.

The next step is to contact a specialist medical negligence solicitor and have them review the case. By reviewing your medical records, contacting the hospital or healthcare body, physicians, nurses and consultants and gathering as much information as possible the solicitor will be able to determine if the patient has a case for compensation or not.

As most medical negligence solicitors work on a No Win, No fee basis, it is in there interests only to pursue cases they believe are winnable, so they will give a patient an honest answer with regard to the case.

It has to be proved that the drug was administered incorrectly (too high a dosage), for too long (extended periods of use even wit the correct dosage can cause gentamicin toxicity) and / or that the physician administering the drug was unaware of the potential side effects.

Should it be determined that a case can be brought to claim for compensation, then the solicitor will prepare the case and make the necessary arrangements with the courts. Patients should be aware that it could take many months before they receive any compensation for gentamicin poisoning.

However, with compensation claims potentially totalling thousands of pounds, it is worth finding out if a case is viable and following it through to the end.

To find a reputable medical negligence solicitor, ask friends and relatives if they have used any and who they would recommend, otherwise a search of the internet in your area will give plenty of options to contact and see which one specialises in these types of cases.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pearson Hinchliffe, medical negligence solicitors experts in gentamicin poisoning compensation claims.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pearson Hinchliffe (http://www.ph-medicalnegligence.co.uk), medical negligence solicitors and experts in medical compensation.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pearson Hinchliffe, medical negligence solicitors experts in gentamicin poisoning compensation claims.

Category: Advice
Keywords: gentamicin poisoning, gentamicin toxicity,gentamicin poisoning compensation