Can I File a MRSA Lawsuit?
If you contracted MRSA in a Baltimore hospital, this may be considered a terrible medical mistake Baltimore, MD hospital patients are entitled to seek compensation for.
Occurrences of MRSA in hospitals is at an all-time high. MRSA is an acronym for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infection. One of the leading reasons for patient deaths in hospitals in the United States is from infections with MRSA infections leading the way.
MRSA is a staph infection which is hard to treat because of its resistance to the antibiotics typically used to treat infections. In the United States, it is projected that about 1.7 million hospital patients will get an infection and almost 100,000 will die from complications surrounding the infection in the year 2018.
It is difficult for physicians to diagnose MRSA and it often goes undiagnosed. When they finally figure out it is MRSA it can be too advanced to treat with the few antibiotics that actually work.
MRSA is a horrible infection that comes with dire outcomes. If it is determined that a patient contracted MRSA as a result of a Baltimore, MD hospital’s negligence, the victim and in many cases, their family, may be entitled to compensation.
Because a patient’s immune system is often compromised because of other issues they are dealing with while in the hospital, MRSA is able to work its way into the lungs, leading to pneumonia. MRSA can also make existing infections worse because of the compromised immune system and the body’s inability to heal effectively on its own.
If you or someone you love has contracted MRSA in a Frederick hospital, it may be a medical mistake that you are entitled to compensation for.
When can the hospital be held liable for an infection caused by MRSA?
If the medical staff was aware that a patient had a higher risk of infection, the hospital should have offered them the chance to not move forward with that particular treatment. If a patient is aware of the risks of proceeding with a procedure while they have MRSA and still wants to move forward, the hospital needs to get permission to proceed with a signed informed consent form.
Although the hospital may not be held responsible for a patient getting MRSA, it may be on the hook for damages caused because the hospital failed to properly treat and diagnose the MRSA quickly enough.
Other cases where a Baltimore, MD hospital may be held liable for medical mistake damages as a result of MRSA include but are not limited to:
Neglect during surgery
- During surgery, there was not enough blood available to surgical incision areas
- Open areas in the body where bacteria could grow
- Unsanitized items touching a wound area
- Hemoglobin from blood loss during surgery comes in contact with a open wound
Sterilization and disinfection procedures not followed correctly
This seems like it should be routine, however, this can happen when surgical instruments are handled improperly or not sterilized. Hands, clothing, floors and all surfaces are supposed to be properly sanitized. If any of these routine systems fail, it may be possible to win a claim against the hospital. This kind of negligence may be considered a medical mistake that a lawyer who is licensed to practice in Baltimore and throughout MD can help you to seek compensation for.
How do you win a legal case for MRSA?
To win a legal case because of a MRSA infection acquired during your hospital stay, you must prove negligence on the part of the hospital and that you contracted MRSA as a result of this. This can be difficult to prove and in order to win, your attorney will likely include the assistance of expert testimony.
If you are looking for a reliable lawyer to help you with MRSA, a medical mistake Baltimore, MD hospitals are making all too often these days, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation with no obligation.
