When a nurse fails to administer care when a patient is suffering from a serious complication, the patient’s symptoms may worsen, and the complication may lead to more serious problems, including death in severe cases.
Just like doctors, nurses have a moral and legal obligation to provide patients with a high standard of care. When this standard of care is violated and it leads to injuries, the patient has the right to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice in civil court.
Types of Nurse Neglect
When a patient is suffering from a serious complication, it is a nurse’s obligation to treat that patient appropriately. Sometimes, though, a nurse fails to do so.
Some common types of nurse neglect are listed below.
- Failing to take action to treat a serious complication, such as dangerous heart rate, high blood pressure, bleeding, etc.
- Failing to record pertinent drug and health information, such as allergies or diseases
- Incorrectly recording information on a patient’s chart
- Failing to record drug reactions
- Failing to properly monitor a patient after surgery
- Failing to maintain a sterile environment, leading to infection
- Failing to provide a patient with appropriate nutrients or water, leading to complications
Sometimes, nurses are also neglectful when it comes to simply providing their patient with basic standards of care, even when the patient is not suffering from a serious complication. For example, a nurse could opt not to turn a patient who is too weak to move him/herself and that could lead to bedsores.
Find a Personal Injury Lawyer, Near Me
(855) 529-0269Dangers of Nurse Neglect
Nurse neglect is always detrimental to a patient, but is even more harmful when the patient is suffering from a serious complication. If a nurse fails to take proper action to treat a patient, or neglectfully makes errors on a patient’s chart, then the repercussions can be severe.
For example, a patient who is not properly monitored following anesthesia could have an adverse anesthesia reaction, which could lead to death or long-term complications if not treated immediately. Similarly, a patient could be given an incorrect medication, or a medication that causes allergies resulting in great suffering.
Can nurses be sued for medical malpractice?
Many people wrongly assume that the only medical professionals who can be sued for medical malpractice are doctors. However, all medical professionals may be the focal point of a lawsuit if they have acted negligently, nurses included.
In Florida, you will have to prove that a duty of care existed between the nurse and yourself (which is generally assumed), that a breach of the duty of care occurred (such as a nurse failing to respond to a complication), and that you sustained injuries or harm as a result.
You have two years to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice, starting on the date that the negligence and harm occurred. So get started as soon as possible by contacting a local attorney to review your case.
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A Florida Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help You File a Claim
If you or a loved one has suffered from nurse neglect, and the neglect has caused you harm, contact a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. The attorneys at Chalik & Chalik can help you file a claim, prove a breach of duty (i.e., negligence), and hold the nurse who harmed you liable for all of your injuries and related damages.
Because of the statute of limitations, it’s important that you act now. If you’re ready to begin, call us today at 855-529-0269, or just fill out our contact form to set up your free consultation.
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