Hospital Acquired Infections are Serious Incidents
by
Malpractice injuries or illnesses can manifest themselves immediately through immediately apparent physical conditions, or they can lie hidden over time. Infections sometimes remain latent inside the body, and over time they become more and more distressing until the victim is often very, very sick.
Such a case was reported in New York recently involving a construction worker and an orthopedic surgeon:
From the LegalExaminer.com – A New York man was recently awarded $2.3 million in his medical malpractice lawsuit. A jury found the doctor in the case negligent for failing to properly treat a serious infection.
A 2011 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that about 34 percent of medical malpractice claims involve surgical errors, while about 46 percent involve diagnostic errors. Hospital infections, however, are also a prominent cause of medical malpractice lawsuits, as they can lead to significant organ damage and even death. A 2013 study reported the five most common infections contracted by patients in hospitals cost the U.S. healthcare system nearly $10 billion annually.
In this case, the plaintiff claimed he went to Hudson Valley Radiology Associations for an MRI in 2010. He was given a routine injection that he believes caused a later infection. Days later, he had a culture done at Nyack Hospital. He was later released.
The plaintiff’s medical malpractice lawyer stated that the culture test showed a serious infection. Healthcare practitioners failed to react in a timely manner and sent the plaintiff home rather than treating the infection. Two days later, he was rushed back to the hospital. By that time, he claims the infection had caused significant damage to his hip. Three months later, he had to go through hip replacement surgery. As a construction worker, he now faces significant wage loss.
According to the complaint, the head of Nyack Hospital’s orthopedic surgery unit was negligent in failing to treat the infection.
MalpracticeAttorneys.com is the leading online source for dependable information intended for victims of malpractice. Our service is free, and we refer only highly qualified attorneys who treat clients with the respect and dignity they deserve. Registering is easy, and you will be contacted soon by an attorney who specializes in malpractice cases.