When you or your loved one needs to go to a hospital for surgery, observation, or treatment, you expect that the facility will be sanitized, clean, and sterile. If a hospital fails to take adequate precautionary measures in maintaining the hygiene of its facility, patients are at risk of developing and suffering from preventable infections.
If you believe a hospital or other care facility is responsible for your or your family member’s serious infection, our Philadelphia avoidable infection malpractice lawyer might be able to help you pursue a civil lawsuit for financial compensation. Our surgical error attorney could review the details of your situation and discuss your options with you.
Many infections that occur in hospitals or other care settings, such as nursing homes, are preventable. They often develop when healthcare workers rush through their jobs and fail to follow the correct procedures necessary to ensure patient safety from harmful bacteria.
Medical workers should disinfect and sterilize equipment between patients. Thoroughly disinfecting tools can prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading. For instance, if a hospital fails to clean its surgical equipment after an operation, the next patient could develop an illness due to infectious bacteria on the tools. As part of the postoperative disinfection process, hospitals also need to dispose of cleaning materials.
Healthcare workers should sterilize a surgical site before performing any procedures. Opening up a patient’s skin without first cleaning the area with a medical disinfectant could expose the patient to harmful bacteria.
Hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other medical facilities regularly handle biohazardous waste, such as blood and surgical tissue. They need to properly dispose of this waste, which could be infectious, to avoid spreading infections.
Simple handwashing can prevent the spread of infections. Doctors, nurses, and other hospital personnel should follow strict handwashing routines and continuously wash their hands throughout each day. Before seeing a new patient, healthcare workers should also carefully remove any blood or tissue from their hands and clothing, such as by changing their gloves, scrubs, or other protective clothing.
Although antibiotics save lives, they can become dangerous if overused and overprescribed. Continuously prescribing antibiotics to patients who do not need them could lead to the development of super bacteria that are resistant to medication, making an infection harder to treat.
Our Philadelphia attorneys have successfully handled medical malpractice cases involving preventable infections that developed from a wide range of causes. We know how to examine evidence to find the cause and search for proof of liability.
The most common types of avoidable infections that develop in hospitals and other medical care facilities are as follows:
Regardless of what kind of avoidable infection you developed, our dedicated Philadelphia malpractice attorneys know how to help you develop a strong claim for compensation.
Patients should not leave hospitals, doctors’ offices, or other medical facilities feeling sicker than when they went in. Unfortunately, when hospitals and their workers fail to follow protocols and act negligently, you are at risk of developing a preventable infection.
If you suspect you developed an infection due to hospital negligence, consult with our Philadelphia avoidable infection malpractice lawyer. We may be able to help you seek accountability in a civil malpractice lawsuit.
