Medical Malpractice And Medical Staff: Negligent Nurses
Nurses are the front line of medical care. Typically, they have the most interaction with patients. Sometimes, they make mistakes that cause injuries. AJohn Hammons has been helping mistreated patients recover damages since 1980. Over the past 40 years, he has developed a team of attorneys and staff dedicated to representing victims of medical malpractice. From our offices in Shreveport and Lafayette, they help clients throughout Louisiana seek compensation for injuries and illnesses that occurred because of medical errors and mistakes.
The Duty Of Care For Medical Professionals
It is not only physicians and surgeons who can be held accountable for medical malpractice; nurses and other medical professionals are also responsible for competently and efficiently caring for their patients. Nurses have more interaction with patients and are often the ones in charge during daily care. When medical professionals like nurses fail to perform their duties at the expected level of competence for their position, this can amount to negligence. When a nurse makes an error or is negligent in their duties and that error or negligence causes harm to their patient, there could be a claim for medical malpractice.
Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities And In-Home Care
Nurses have a wide-range of functions across the entire medical field. Nurses in hospitals and clinics, assisted living facilities and nursing homes truly hold the front line of the medical industry. They even provide in-home care and visits to those who need it. As a result, medical negligence and malpractice can happen anywhere.
Common Examples Of Nursing Negligence
As with all medical malpractice cases, nursing negligence must meet certain criteria. The negligence or errors must have been preventable and caused harm or injury to the patient. Some common examples of nurse negligence include:
- Medication errors: Providing the wrong dose or wrong medication to patients
- Failure to properly monitor patients: Poorly monitoring symptoms and vital signs or improperly observing a patient’s condition
- Failure to report changes: Neglecting to communicate or report changes in a patient’s condition to the physician
- Improper documentation: Making a mistake while recording information on a patient’s chart
- Procedural errors: Improperly performing a nurse procedure, such as when inserting an IV or catheter placement
A missed or unreported change in a patient’s condition or the wrong medication can lead to serious injuries or even the death of the patient. Like doctors, nurses have a responsibility to adhere to the accepted practices in monitoring, reporting and caring for patients. In some cases, hospitals, medical offices and health care facilities can also be held responsible if there was a lack of training or another issue that led to the nurse’s negligence.
Experienced Nursing Negligence Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been harmed due to a nursing error or mistake, then you have legal rights. In Louisiana, the burden of proof is put on the patient, and there are stringent laws in place that protect medical professionals from liability and make it difficult to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Health care facilities and insurance companies often appeal jury verdicts. Our legal team at Nelson & Hammons, Attorneys At Law, has the resources, knowledge and experience to successfully pursue a claim for nurse negligence and medical malpractice.
Injured By A Nurse’s Negligence? Call Today.
We offer free initial case assessments and consultations. If you or someone you love was injured or became ill because of a nurse’s negligence, call us today at 318-716-7329 or send an email through our website to schedule your free appointment.