Atlanta Nursing Errors Lawyer
When we seek medical care, it is often not just a physician who will be treating us but an entire team of medical professionals. In many cases, the majority of our contact with providers will be with nurses. Any one of the medical professionals involved in providing care can make a mistake that will have severe consequences for the patient. In some cases, the nurse’s behavior will constitute medical malpractice. Any injured patient may have a claim for compensation. If you were injured because of a nurse’s careless actions, contact the Atlanta nursing errors lawyer at The Moses Firm at 404-721-1050.
How Do Nurses Commit Medical Malpractice?
A nurse will be the one best suited to notice when something goes wrong with a patient in many scenarios. In the case of an emergency, nurses must take the appropriate actions to ensure the patient receives prompt treatment. The nurse may be required to provide medication or treatment herself or to call for help. Sometimes, a nurse may fail to notice that something is wrong. Part of a nurse’s job is to monitor the status of a patient. If the nurse fails to recognize something that puts the patient at risk, he or she may be liable for malpractice. Of course, this will only be the case if the nurse failed to identify something that he or she should have been able to identify.
Nurses are also tasked with performing certain medical procedures. If a nurse causes an injury to a patient, this can also be a case of malpractice. In the course of surgery, a nurse may forget to remove a sponge. When this occurs, it can potentially lead to an infection and the need for additional surgical procedures. When injecting a medication, a nurse may fail to inject it into the vein. In those cases, if the accident rises to the level of negligence, the nurse will have committed malpractice. Nurses also administer medication to patients. Sometimes, a nurse may administer too much medication, forget to administer medication, or administer the wrong medication. The consequences of improper medication can be dire for many patients. Nurses may also fail to abide by important sanitation guidelines. When doing so, the nurse may cause the patient to develop an infection. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of Americans suffer from hospital-related infections every year. Strict hygiene policies are needed to combat such risks.
There are also scenarios where a nurse might be responsible for recording important patient information. If a nurse fails to maintain proper records, that patient could receive incorrect treatment or medications. Lack of information can lead to a patient being administered a medication that conflicts with and causes adverse reactions with another medication the patient is already taking. Hospital records are a vital part of treatment, and failing to keep such records can lead to tragedies.
Who is Liable When a Nurse Commits Malpractice?
In some cases, a hospital might be liable for the medical malpractice carried out by an employee, including a nurse. For a hospital to be liable, the nurse will have to be an employee who was performing a job-related duty at the time of the alleged malpractice. If the nurse was employed by and under the direction of an independent doctor, the hospital might not be responsible for his or her actions. In other cases, doctors will be liable for malpractice committed by a nurse. This situation may happen when the doctor was supervising the nurse.
Whether a hospital or doctor is liable for a nurse’s actions is relevant in determining who will pay for the injured patient’s damages. If you have questions regarding nurse malpractice in Atlanta, Georgia, contact an attorney.
How Can an Injured Person Prove a Nursing Medical Malpractice Case?
Medical malpractice cases, including those involving negligence on the part of a nurse, can involve complicated facts and evidence. In most cases, it will be necessary to have a medical expert who can testify and explain what the nurse did and what he or she should have done when treating the patient.
What Can I Recover in a Successful Nursing Error Malpractice Claim?
Patients who suffer severe injuries resulting from a nurse’s malpractice can recover compensation from the responsible party. The compensation will include damages that will cover medical expenses, lost wages, and the patient’s pain and suffering. Recovering compensation can help relieve much of the financial burden created by a nurse’s negligence. The specific amounts a person may recover will be heavily dependent on the extent of the injuries and specific facts of the case. If you have questions regarding your options for recovering in a nursing malpractice claim, contact an Atlanta, Georgia Medical malpractice attorney.
Call the Atlanta Nursing Errors Lawyer at The Moses Firm Today
At The Moses Firm, our attorneys understand that medical malpractice cases can have long-lasting and even tragic results for a patient and that person’s family. Filing a claim can help hold the liable party responsible for causing you harm. If you or a loved one was injured as a result of nursing errors, call us today at 404-721-1050 to discuss your claim with a dedicated Atlanta medical malpractice attorney.
