Critical Court Decision says Cruise Lines Open to Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
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A wise man once said “Assumptions are dangerous things to make.”
We assume a lot. When we take a trip aboard a multi-million dollar cruise ship for example, we assume we are safe from accidents and that we will receive professional, qualified medical care should we become ill or injured. That is not entirely accurate.
Maritime medical malpractice cases have sometimes languished in limbo for years, with victims grasping for ways to sue negligent physicians and other healthcare professionals employed on cruise ships. But a decision on Monday, November 10, 2014 by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals of the 11th Circuit says cruise lines should not be immune from lawsuits alleging medical malpractice. See the decision here: USCourts.gov
The case before the Court of Appeals involved a Caribbean Cruise Lines passenger who fell while on or near a dock and hit his head. He was allegedly told by a nurse on the ship he could return to his cabin, but his condition deteriorated. He was later airlifted to a hospital in New York and died a week later.
This recent decision clears a path for victims to pursue justice through U.S. courts in different jurisdictions.
Cruise Ship Negligence and Medical Malpractice are two areas of special focus for attorneys affiliated with MalpracticeAttorneys.com. It is easy to register on our site, and our service is free to victims.