Medical Malpractice and Nurses
Medical malpractice lawsuits provide patients with a way to hold medical professionals accountable for damages stemming from negligent care. Medical negligence refers to a medical professional’s failure to provide the degree of care that would be provided by a reasonable professional in similar circumstances.
Many people assume that medical malpractice cases always involve doctors, but any healthcare professional can be sued if they fail to provide the accepted standard of care. In fact, medical malpractice cases involving nurses are quite common. Medical malpractice lawyers at Moody Law can assist their Lakeland, FL, clients in seeking financial compensation when a nurse’s negligence results in illness or injury.
Establishing Medical Malpractice
It is important to realize that not all errors can be classified as medical malpractice. However, if a patient has suffered an injury or illness while under medical care, it is worth contacting a knowledgeable attorney to see if there are grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
When our lawyers are considering the validity of a medical malpractice case, we ask four questions:
- Was there a clearly established doctor-patient relationship? (the relationship can exist between a patient and any medical professional – not just doctors)
- Was there a failure to provide the accepted standard of care?
- Did medical negligence directly cause an illness or injury?
- Did sustained illness or injuries result in emotional, physical, or financial losses?
If the answer to all of these questions is “yes,” then our lawyers should be able to establish in court that our Winter Haven clients have been the victim of medical malpractice.
What Leads to Medical Malpractice?
Sadly, medical malpractice cases are much more common than most people realize, and the number of medical malpractice cases do not seem to be diminishing over the years. There are several factors that contribute to medical malpractice cases, particularly those involving nurses:
- Delegation – In an effort to cut costs and save time, tasks are often delegated to personnel who may not be qualified to handle those responsibilities.
- Staff shortages – Many hospitals are understaffed, which leads to personnel carrying greater workloads and, often, working overtime. Fatigue and excessive workloads both increase the likelihood of medical negligence.
- Technological advances – As technologies advance, some staff are unable to keep up with newer techniques or equipment.
Examples of Medical Malpractice Involving Nurses
Nurses play an important role in the medical field, performing many essential tasks for their patients. Unfortunately, the vast responsibilities that a nurse holds also means that there are several different ways that they can be involved in medical malpractice. Some of the most common examples of medical malpractice errors involving nurses include:
- Medication errors (giving the wrong medication, neglecting to provide ordered medication, providing the wrong dose of medication, etc.)
- Misuse of medical tools or equipment
- Failure to follow proper protocol
- Failure to report or respond to signs of distress
- Mismanagement of patient charts, neglect to make proper notations
- Surgical error
Medical Malpractice Damages
In cases of medical malpractice, the patient has a right to seek financial compensation for all losses stemming from the injury. Damages that may be awarded to our Lakeland clients who are victims of medical malpractice include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Therapy or rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages and any loss of wage-earning potential
- Pain and suffering
Contact Our Firm
If medical neglect at the hands of a nurse has resulted in injuries and losses for you or a loved one, you should consider filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. The attorneys at Moody Law would be happy to consider the details of your situation and advice you on your best course of legal action. To learn more, send us a message at your earliest convenience or call (863) 284-9090.