When seeking hospital care, patients place a certain amount of trust in the providers they encounter to deliver professional, competent medical services. 

Hospital negligence is an increasingly common cause of injury and illness. Unfortunately, it isn’t only the time spent in emergency rooms that presents a significant risk of harm to patients. Rather, once a patient is admitted to the hospital, many problems arise.

Crim Law Office, PLLC has advocated for patients injured in hospitals. A West Virginia medical malpractice lawyer is uniquely suited to take on the challenges associated with suffering due to the neglect of a hospital. Contact our office today for a free case review. 

How is Hospital Negligence Defined?

A standard level of care is expected to be provided to each patient who walks through an emergency room’s doors. However, when harm occurs to a patient, it is often due to a failure of the hospital’s staff to meet that standard of care. 

Once a patient is admitted to hospital care, the medical professionals treating the patient change. Continuity of care is a major issue, given that the nurses and doctors who had been caring for a patient remain in the emergency room after a patient is given a room in the hospital. From there, unless communication between departments is excellent, an error may occur during this transition. 

A mistake in transcribing a dosage of medication or failing to check on the patient’s condition often enough can both result in serious harm. This is where a West Virginia medical malpractice lawyer can provide you with a tremendous advantage. Instead of guessing at who is at fault for your injuries, the Crim Law Office, PLLC, proactively seeks out the evidence you need to build a strong case against whoever caused your injuries. 

What Specific Problems Can Arise for a Patient During a Hospital Stay?

• Going into the hospital for even a “routine” medical procedure carries with it some risk. A complication during surgery can occur either while the procedure is occurring or due to an issue with the administration of anesthesia
• For good reason, hygiene is heavily focused upon in hospitals. If protocols associated with proper hygiene are not closely followed, it is possible that severe, life-threatening infections in a patient may occur
• Failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis is possible once a patient is admitted to the hospital for care. A series of tests is often run on a patient once admitted to determine the best course of action to treat their symptoms. When a test result is overlooked or misread, a costly misdiagnosis may occur. 

What are the Steps Necessary to Pursue a Liability Claim Against a Hospital?

Holding a hospital responsible for negligence means convincing a judge or jury that the hospital (one of its employees) has failed to meet the standard of care acceptable in a hospital, given your circumstances. Harm must have resulted from their negligence. 

• There is a legal obligation owed by a hospital and its staff to patients. This is known as a duty of care. When a patient seeks care from a medical provider, it is common for the legal obligation known as the duty of care to attach to that relationship. 
• Was that duty of care breached? A breach of the duty of care means the hospital or its staff failed to meet the requisite standard of care in a hospital setting. Proving a breach of the duty of care requires a plan. 
• Here is one of the most difficult parts of the entire process. Proving that the breach of the duty of care owed to a patient was a direct cause of the harm suffered. In many cases, the harm suffered results in a new injury or an existing injury being made worse. 
• Finally, damages must be proved. This is the step where showing that losses were suffered is incredibly important. Medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering are just a few examples of the types of damages that may be suffered by a patient. 

What to Do if You Believe You Have Been Injured or Harmed as a Result of Hospital Negligence

There are a handful of steps that you should follow if you believe that you have suffered harm due to the negligence of a hospital. Contact Crim Law Office, PLLC, to discuss your case today. We take the time to listen to your circumstances and explain what a potential strategy for your case looks like. 

First, seek medical care as soon as you leave the hospital. The type of care you seek should be based on the injury or harm suffered. A second opinion on your condition and a follow-up on your existing conditions are advisable. 

Keeping track of everything that has gone on since your initial hospitalization is key to building a strong case. Medical bills, communications between your family and the hospital, and documentation about your condition should be kept and organized. Test results are especially critical in a hospital discharge circumstance. Consider that if a physician misdiagnosed or missed a diagnosis altogether, it may be the result of a test being misread or overlooked. 

Last, speak to an experienced West Virginia medical malpractice lawyer. The sooner you speak to an attorney, the sooner you can begin to build your case. It is not as simple as showing a judge or jury that you have suffered an injury during a hospitalization. Rather, there are many steps to proving your case and ultimately being awarded damages. Rather than make a mistake early in the case, please contact our office today. 

Crim Law Office, PLLC – Your Advocates Against a Hostile, At-Fault Hospital

After suffering harm during a hospitalization, do not begin your case alone. Hospitals know how to defend themselves even against rightful claims brought by injured patients. Crim Law Office, PLLC knows how to build a case and pursue justice for clients. A free consultation is yours by contacting us today.