Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Malpractice

An ear, nose, throat doctor (ENT), is also known as an otolaryngologist; a doctor that specializes in the study, treatment, and diagnosis of ear, nose, throat, and parts of the head and neck. These physicians provide care to individuals with injuries or diseases of the larynx (voice box), mouth, sinuses, and upper pharynx. 

There are many sub-specialties in this category of medicine including :

  • Head and Neck: surgical oncology, reconstruction, endocrine surgery
  • Facial Plastics: facial cosmetic surgery, maxillofacial, trauma
  • Neurotology: middle and inner ear, temporal bone, skull base, dizziness
  • Otology: ear, hearing
  • Rhinology/Sinus: sinusitis, allergy, anterior skull base, apnea, and snoring
  • Laryngology: voice therapy, phono-surgery
  • Pediatrics: velopalatine insufficiency, cleft lip, and palate, airway, vascular malformations, cochlear implant
  • Sleep: sleep studies, insomnia

These physicians are requested to care for patients regarding issues such as: 

  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx
  • Oral cancer
  • Skin Cancer of the head & neck
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Endocrine surgery of the head and neck (thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy)
  • Microvascular free flap reconstruction
  • Skull base surgery
  • Dizziness
    • BPPV – benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
    • Labyrinthitis/vestibular neuronitis
    • Ménière's disease/endolymphatic hydrops
    • Perilymphatic fistula
    • Acoustic neuroma
  • Hearing loss
  • Mastoiditis
  • Otitis externa – outer ear or ear canal inflammation
  • Otitis media – middle ear inflammation
  • Otitis interna – inner ear inflammation
  • Perforated eardrum (hole in the eardrum due to infection, trauma, explosion, or loud noise)
  • Ear surgery
  • Environmental allergies
  • Sinusitis – acute, chronic
  • Rhinitis
  • Adenoidectomy
  • Caustic ingestion
  • Cricotracheal resection
  • Decannulation
  • Laryngomalacia
  • Laryngotracheal reconstruction
  • Myringotomy and tubes
  • Obstructive sleep apnea – pediatric
  • Tonsillectomy
  • Dysphonia/hoarseness
    • Laryngitis
    • Reinke's edema
    • Vocal cord nodules and polyps
  • Spasmodic dysphonia
  • Tracheostomy
  • Cancer of the larynx
  • Vocology – science and practice of voice habilitation

Diagnosis of the above issues is executed in a variety of ways. Treatment modalities include patient history, biopsy, diagnostic studies, physical examination, and surgery. When an otolaryngologist fails to order the appropriate test, such as a CAT scan or MRI, this can pose a serious threat to the patient. Misdiagnosis, as always, is a concern causing recurring pain and suffering or worse yet failure to recognize a potentially deadly head/neck cancer. 

Any problems dealing with the head, ears, throat, and nose are dangerously close to the brain and can cause serious damage or possibly even death. Physicians in this area of study need to be hyper-vigilant regarding the seriousness of the patient’s concerns.

If you feel that you or a loved one has been harmed due to a misdiagnosis or improper treatment by an ENT, or otolaryngologist, you may be eligible for damages. Call the Sweeney Law Firm and let our experts review the facts to see if you have a medical malpractice case. If we decide to accept your case, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no fee for representation unless there is a settlement or fund recovery made on your behalf.