If you or a loved one has recently spent time in the hospital, you likely felt that you could trust the expertise of hospital staff to carry out appropriate procedures and deliver sufficient care. All patients have a right to expect that they will receive good care at a hospital. This is why, when things go wrong, it may be possible for injured patients or their loved ones to take action against the hospital.
If you or a loved one suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of spending time in a hospital, it may be possible to claim damages, both for the medical bills that you incurred due to these injuries and for the pain and suffering that was endured by the patient. However, to be successful in doing this, you must show that the hospital acted negligently, and as a result of this negligence, that the injuries were caused. The following are some instances in which the hospital could be held liable for negligence.
When an employee doctor is incompetent
If a doctor or surgeon acts in an incompetent way and causes an injury through their actions or lack of action, it may be the hospital that will be held liable. This is known as vicarious liability. The hospital has a duty to hire only competent staff who perform at high standards, and the incompetent actions of a doctor may show they should be held responsible.
When under-staffing leads to injuries
A hospital has the duty to ensure that it is providing the best care for all patients. To fulfill this duty, it must be well-managed and adequately staffed. Under-staffing can be dangerous because it limits the amount of care and attention that each patient can receive. Therefore, if you can show that under-staffing caused you harm, you may be able to take legal action against the hospital.
It’s important that you take swift action if you believe that a hospital exercised negligence. It can take time to build a compelling case so that you can successfully claim the damages that you deserve.