The Silent Epidemic of Hospital Treatment Errors and What We Can Do About Them

For most patients, a hospital stay, while unpleasant, does cure what ails them. Whether it takes days, weeks, or months, most leave in better shape than when they arrived. Unfortunately, some aren’t so lucky. Medical mistreatment and mishaps still occur, and for some, it can result in a worsening of conditions or even a permanent disability. But how does the common person fight back and ensure justice is served?

Southern Florida victims of hospital negligence should immediately reach out to a Miami medical malpractice attorney. During a free consultation, they’ll determine the best way to receive compensation for their damages and ensure that no one else is harmed by hospital negligence. Give them a call today so you can seek justice.

Examples of Hospital Negligence

It could have been good or bad, depending on the quality of care you received during your hospital stay. While not all hospital visits are pleasant, most result in patients getting the quality of care they deserve. However, negligence does occur, and sometimes it can lead to what’s considered medical malpractice. Here’s a look at some of the more common hospital errors.

• Hospital Infections – Hospitals are packed with bacteria and viruses from patients, visitors, and staff. Improperly cared for open wounds can cause patients to be more prone to infection.

• Incorrect Surgery – Botched or incorrect surgeries are extreme medical negligence. While most surgeons and hospital staff do all they can to ensure a successful surgery, mistakes happen.

• Misdiagnosis – CNN reports that each year, over 7 million misdiagnoses occur in hospital emergency rooms in the country. The causes are many and can include understaffed issues and inexperienced doctors.

• Failure to Adequately Monitor Patients – Patients not adequately monitored in their hospital bed or during surgery are grounds for medical malpractice. If a hospital staff member fails to provide the expected standard of care and a patient’s condition worsens, the hospital can be deemed negligent.

What To Do When Hospital Errors Have Occurred

If possible, the first thing you’ll want to do when you suspect you’ve been the victim of medical negligence is get a second and possibly third opinion. Proving medical malpractice can be complicated, and as a part of the process, you’ll need to obtain an Affidavit of Merit from a similarly trained medical expert. You can receive this, or at least find a qualified professional to provide one by getting another medical opinion.

Once you’ve found a medical expert who agrees that you’ve been the victim of medical negligence and want to file a personal injury lawsuit to gain compensation for your damages, you shouldn’t do so alone. Going up against a team of savvy insurance company lawyers should only be attempted by a legal professional. Here is what you’ll need to do:

1. Hire an experienced medical malpractice attorney
2. Obtain an Affidavit of Merit
3. Gather evidence to prove negligence, liability, injury, and damages
4. File a personal injury lawsuit

Types of Damages You Can Claim

You cannot file a medical malpractice lawsuit unless you’ve sustained damages. Damages can be of an economic or non-economic nature. While some damages are obvious, others aren’t quite as visible. Economic claims typically include:

• Past, present, and future lost wages and benefits
• Past, current, and future medical bills
• Travel expenses to and from medical appointments
• Any costs associated with home modifications to help with mobility issues
• Housekeeping and lawn care costs if your injury prevents you from doing them

Non-economic damages aren’t easily quantified, but with the help of your personal injury attorney, you can come up with a figure. Common medical malpractice damages in the realms of mental health issues and everyday life problems can include:

• Mental anguish
• PTSD
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium

Hospital Malpractice and What to Do About It Explained

For some, a hospital stay can result in the worsening of their condition or worse. For whatever reason – a slip of a surgeon’s hand or issues resulting from understaffing – medical neglect does occur in even the best of our country’s hospitals.

You’ll want to work with an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure that the guilty parties are held accountable. It would be foolish to seek justice alone without a legal team on your side.