Although a hospital stay may be necessary for planned or unexpected health care needs, the environment can be overwhelming due to the many professionals and support staff involved in your care or that of a loved one. Standards are typically implemented to ensure that all who contribute to your care are working toward the same goals. However, errors can occur for various reasons, potentially affecting the well-being of a patient. In some cases, errors or professional failures can lead to serious health consequences or even death, potentially exposing the hospital and involved staff members to the possibility of malpractice litigation.
In dealing with an incident that might warrant a malpractice suit, you should know that the options may vary based on whether the institution is private or public. Action against a government-operated institution may be affected by different requirements for filing. Because the statutes of limitations can vary, it is important to make decisions about possible legal action in a timely manner.
It is helpful to note that a hospital may be held accountable for acts of negligence by its employees. Some of the ways in which a hospital might act negligently include failing to sufficiently staff a facility or area, failing to provide correct training for personnel, and failing to maintain a staff with qualified individuals. Failure in the oversight of patient care can lead to malpractice issues. Nursing errors may also expose a hospital to potential legal action.
In determining whether you have grounds for filing a medical malpractice claim against a hospital, you may want to discuss your situation with an experienced malpractice lawyer. You can learn more about these issues on our medical malpractice page.
Source: Law offices of , A.P.C., “Los Angeles Hospital Malpractice Lawyer“, December 10, 2014
