When you go to the doctor for help, you expect to start feeling better after some time passes. If this doesn’t happen, and if you start feeling worse, you may want to make a return trip. A hospital is supposed to be a haven for people to go when they need care. There are some instances when a person seeking help in a hospital setting may wind up getting sicker or even dying. When a person dies after being at a hospital for care, who is responsible? Examine some of the factors that go into determining who the fault lies within a medical malpractice case.
The Physician
The doctor is the first person who is tapped in when a person is sick or injured. They assume responsibility when they take on a patient, even in a hospital setting. A physician is in charge of a patient’s course of care, and if that doesn’t turn out well for the patient, the doctor is the one who ultimately holds liability. Even if someone acting under a doctor’s orders messes up, the doctor is on the hook for giving the directive that led to a person getting hurt. Therefore, in almost every medical malpractice suit, a doctor is named as a responsible party.
The Nursing Staff
Nurses play a vital role in patient treatment, particularly in a hospital setting. They track vital signs, dispense medication and deal with emergencies. A nurse does have to follow the patient’s course of care that the doctor hashes out based on what the test results show. At times, nurses may also make mistakes in caring for patients. They may read charts improperly and administer the wrong drugs. They might accidentally stick a patient with a used needle. They may cause a patient to fall or trip during transport. When a nurse is responsible for a patient getting hurt, they are liable to face a lawsuit naming them personally.
The Hospital
When an egregious error occurs at a hospital, there is a good chance the medical facility will somehow be on the hook for it. In some instances, hospitals are responsible because they failed to train medical staff properly, or they have outdated equipment. In either case, the hospital can usually be named in a medical malpractice lawsuit as contributing to the negligence that caused a patient’s illness or injury.
The doctors and medical staff that work at hospitals are there to help you feel better. When the opposite occurs, it is a good idea to speak to a FL medical malpractice lawyer for assistance.
Thank you to David & Philpot, P.L. for their information on medical malpractice.