Some Causes Of Fatalities In Healthcare Facilities And How To Pursue Justice If Your Relative Dies In A Hospital

1 November 2022
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Healthcare professionals have a duty to take care of patients who seek services at their facilities. If they ignore this duty or take it lightly, an injury could result either during or after treatment. Consequently, patients might suffer severe complications that may cause them to undergo medical procedures that were not in the initial treatment plan. Some victims might also succumb to the harm caused by their caregivers. In the event that this happens to your relative, you can bring a claim against the negligent healthcare provider. This is especially so if their death resulted from the following issues: 

Causes of Death in Healthcare Facilities

Fatalities in medical facilities can arise from one or multiple errors. These may include surgical mistakes, e.g. if a doctor wrongly prescribes surgery to a patient who does not require one. Some patients also die in surgical rooms due to an error by a surgeon, anesthetist, or another healthcare provider. Misdiagnosis is another cause of death in hospitals, occurring when doctors fail to diagnose an illness correctly. This can have a snowball effect characterized by the prescription of the wrong medication and subsequent adverse side effects while the true illness fails to be treated. In some cases, the patient's condition worsens, and they lose their life.

Some cosmetic procedures can also cause death if the surgeon fails to follow the right procedures. Moreover, deaths may happen in nursing homes if caregivers neglect their duties or make mistakes when attending to seniors. If these negligent behaviors lead to the death of your loved one, you may have the right to sue the wrongdoers. To this end, it is prudent to consult a wrongful death attorney from a reputable personal injury law firm for advice on holding the responsible parties accountable.

Steps to Take When Seeking Justice 

An important first step when seeking justice should be consulting an attorney. They will evaluate your case to determine whether the circumstances that resulted in the fatality meet the threshold for bringing a wrongful death claim. Your attorney will also likely consult medical professionals who evaluate the medical records and confirm that your relative's death resulted from a medical error. They will also obtain evidence to help strengthen your case, including bills and receipts of the payments you made while your relative was in the hospital. Your lawyer will use the evidence they gather to prove that your family has suffered significant financial losses. This will increase your chances of getting a favorable settlement.

The demise of your relative while receiving treatment can be very painful for your family. In such a trying time, you might be unable to pursue justice. Therefore, you may hire a wrongful death attorney from a reputable personal injury law firm to handle the legal process on your family's behalf.

For more info, contact a personal injury lawyer today.