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Hospitals are expected to provide a high standard of care to every patient. When these standards are not met, patients can suffer serious consequences, leading to questions of liability and potential legal action. This article outlines situations where someone may file a claim against a hospital for negligence, including medical negligence, malpractice, and unsafe discharge. If you or a loved one has been affected by substandard care, understanding your rights and options is crucial.
The Standards of Care for Hospitals
Hospitals must meet specific standards of care to ensure the safety and well-being of their patients. These standards include maintaining clean and safe facilities, providing appropriate medical treatment, employing qualified staff, and ensuring that all care follows medical best practices. But what happens when these standards are not upheld? Patients may experience harm, prolonged recovery times, or worse conditions due to errors, negligence, or unsafe practices. If you believe you’ve been a victim of such treatment, legal action may be necessary to hold the hospital accountable and seek compensation.
Medical Negligence: What Actions You Should Take
Medical negligence occurs when a hospital or its staff fails to provide the expected level of care, resulting in harm to a patient. This can happen through inaction, mistakes, or oversight. Some examples of medical negligence include failure to diagnose a condition in a timely manner, medication errors that lead to adverse effects, surgical errors such as leaving instruments inside a patient, improper monitoring of vital signs, and unsanitary hospital conditions causing infections. If you believe you’ve experienced medical negligence, document the incident, seek a second opinion, and consult a personal injury attorney to assess your claim. Common medical errors that may support your case are outlined in more detail in this guide to identifying medical malpractice errors and understanding your rights at Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP.
Medical Malpractice: What Actions You Should Take
Medical malpractice involves a healthcare provider’s direct action or inaction that results in harm due to substandard care. While negligence may involve oversight, malpractice often involves a breach of duty or deliberate disregard for proper medical protocols. For example, a misdiagnosis leading to harmful or unnecessary treatment, surgical procedures causing further injuries, or a failure to provide proper follow-up care that worsens a patient’s condition could qualify as medical malpractice. To better understand how medical malpractice differs from negligence, visit our detailed comparison on the subject at Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP. If you suspect malpractice, document your injuries, keep records of medical conversations, and contact a lawyer who specializes in these cases.
Unsafe Discharge: What Actions You Should Take
An unsafe discharge happens when a hospital sends a patient home before they are medically stable or fails to provide adequate post-discharge instructions. This can result in complications, readmissions, or worsening health conditions. Common signs of unsafe discharge include a lack of clear instructions for medication or care, releasing a patient without ensuring proper transportation or support, and ignoring symptoms indicating the patient is not ready to leave. If you think you’ve been a victim of unsafe discharge, our article on what constitutes an unsafe hospital discharge can help you identify whether your situation qualifies for a personal injury claim.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has been affected by medical negligence, malpractice, or unsafe discharge, it’s important to take action to protect your rights. Hospitals should be held accountable for failing to meet their standards of care. At Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP, our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through the legal process and help you seek the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your options. Don’t wait—your health and well-being are too important to delay.