Nurses Are Subject to Medical Malpractice Lawsuits and Negligence Claims
Chanfrau & Chanfrau is one of the leading personal injury law firms in the Daytona Beach area. Our lawyers offer clients expert counsel and guidance, taking great care when it comes to all phases of a case.
We take cases involving medical malpractice and hospital errors very seriously. We know that negligence by a medical professional can lead to serious pain and heartache for the victims of the mistake and their loved ones. That's why we feel all medial professionals need to be held accountable for their actions.
Nursing Malpractice Must Be Taken Seriously
While many people associate medical malpractice with doctors and surgeons, nurses need to be held accountable for mistakes as well. In fact, errors made by nurses can be just as serious as a mistake made by your physician. Ultimately we expect that those in the medical field are here to help us rather than harm us. Should we be harmed, they should be held accountable.
Failures to Act
Nurses are sometimes the first people to notice if something is wrong. If a patient is suffering from an urgent medical emergency, it's a nurse's duty to attend to the patient and notify others to assist in addressing this medical problem. Similarly, if a nurse is monitoring a patient and notices a cause for concern, it's important that the nurse inform others of this issue. A failure to act on the part of a nurse can literally mean the difference between life and death.
Improper Administration of Medication
Nurses are often tasked with administering medication to patients. Serious mistakes can occur in doing this, however. A nurser may accidentally administer the wrong medication, or give a patient the right medication in the wrong dosage. These errors can be very dangerous, putting lives at risk.
Injuring Patients with Medical Equipment
While monitoring patients and attending to their needs, nurses will often operate different kinds of medical equipment. It's possible for nurses to harm patients with this equipment if they are being negligent. One example is the improper use of an IV. Should the IV not be administered properly, it can lead to infection, infiltration, and other problems that can affect patient wellness.
Four Elements of Malpractice to Consider
There are generally four elements to consider when it comes to any medical malpractice case:
duty, breach of duty, damages, and causation.
Duty refers to the level of care owed to a patient. A breach of duty refers to the failure to abide by this duty to the patient. Damages refer to the harm or injury sustained by the patient. Causation refers to a direct link between the injury a patient sustained and the medical professional's breach of duty.
Should these elements be present after a medical accident or mistake involving a nurse, it's important that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
How a Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help You
The litigation process can be complicated and challenging to people without a legal background. By working with a skilled attorney, you can get the advice you need and guidance to seek a successful resolution in your case. We will offer our own insight on how you should proceed and help you achieve peace of mind so you can focus on recovery and healing.
Contact the Lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau
For more information about your legal options following a serious medical mistake, be sure to contact our team of injury attorneys today. The legal team of Chanfrau & Chanfrau is here to help you during every phase of your legal claim.