As reported in The Baltimore Sun, shooting and stabbing victims immobilized to protect their spines might be twice as likely to die because of the delay in transporting them to the hospital, Johns Hopkins researchers conclude in a new study that could trigger a review of treatment protocols used by Maryland paramedics.

Delays in medical treatment, including transportation for treatment are more common than we as a society would like to recognize. While not all delays in treatment give rise to a cause of action, if the delay falls below the standard of care required of a health care provider and causes injury or exacerbates existing injuries, it may give rise to a legal claim.

Medical emergencies are complex situations and it is generally difficult to know whether an injury victim was treated appropriately without proper research and investigation into the matter.

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