Brandon Nursing Malpractice Lawyer
Nurses are responsible for providing most of a patient’s day-to-day care, monitoring their well-being, and accurately reporting information about their condition to the treating physician. While many nurses are diligent and use great care in fulfilling these duties, this is not always the case and the consequences for patients and their families can be devastating. Although it is possible to hold nurses, doctor, and surgeons accountable for their negligent care, doing so is difficult without the help of an attorney who is well-versed in medical malpractice laws and procedures, so if you recently suffered an injury as a result of a nurse’s negligence, it is important to speak with a team of Brandon nursing malpractice lawyers who can help protect your legal interests.
Examples of Nursing Malpractice
In an effort to save money, many health care facilities overwhelm their nurses with too many patients, leaving them to struggle under a patient load that is too heavy. In other cases, nurses forget important protocol due to a lack of training or oversight, or may make a mistake out of carelessness. Regardless of the circumstances, a nurse who fails to provide proper care to patients can be held legally responsible for resulting injuries. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Failing to monitor a patient’s blood pressure or other vital signs;
- Failing to notify the patient’s physician of any changes to an individual’s condition;
- Ignoring patients when they request assistance;
- Ignoring critical warning alarms;
- Falsifying medical charts and records;
- Contributing to emergency room errors;
- Failing to recognize patient distress;
- Making medication errors, including administering the wrong type or dosage;
- Allowing a patient to suffer from dehydration or bedsores; and
- Failing to accurately report a patient’s symptoms.
To prove that nursing malpractice has occurred, a patient will need to provide evidence of a negligent act, which will be used to demonstrate the defendant’s breach of his or her duty of care. Furthermore, the patient will need to prove that he or she suffered an injury as a result of the defendant’s actions. Expert testimony is one of the best ways to satisfy this burden, as a specialist will be able to testify as to the normal standard of care in a particular case. Documentation of the patient’s injuries will also play a critical role in proving a medical malpractice claim, so injured patients should be sure to keep copies of their medical records, bills, and incident reports.
Liable Parties
Liability for nursing malpractice will vary depending on the specific circumstances of a case. If, for example, a nurse violated company policy while attending a patient at a hospital, he or she could most likely be held directly liable for damages. If, on the other hand, the negligent act in question was performed under the supervision or direct orders of a doctor, the doctor and perhaps even the hospital or medical facility could also be held partially liable. Determining who is ultimately at fault for nursing malpractice can be difficult, as most cases involve a number of different healthcare professionals, making it especially important for injured patients to speak with a nursing malpractice lawyer before proceeding with their claims.
Call Our Office Today
If you were injured as a result of a nurse’s mistake, please call Palmer | Lopez at 813-506-5651 today to speak with one of our dedicated Brandon nursing malpractice lawyers about seeking compensation for your losses.
