Medical Malpractice at Liberty, MO City Hospitals
Posted in Lawsuit on February 13, 2020
Medical malpractice can cause severe harm to our physical, emotional, and financial health. We may experience additional medical expenses, severe pain, a worsening condition — all because of the negligence of a medical professional. Sometimes, even the hospital itself could be responsible for a case of malpractice, and in these situations, you can hold the facility accountable in a lawsuit.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
All doctors, nurses, surgeons, and other medical professionals must uphold a certain standard of care when providing treatment to their patients. When a medical professional commits an act of negligence or fails to provide the necessary care, causing injury to a patient, he or she commits an act of medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice can take many forms.
- Prescribing the wrong medication or the wrong dosage to a patient
- Leaving foreign objects in a patient’s body following surgery
- Performing surgery on the wrong body part or committing another surgical error
- Failure to diagnose a condition properly or misdiagnosing one condition as another
- Committing an error in regards to the amount of anesthesia that a patient receives
- Misreading or ignoring important laboratory results
This act can lead to significant damage to you and your health. You may face additional medical expenses for injuries or illnesses related to the malpractice, lose significant amounts of wages during your recovery periods, or cope with emotional anguish and severe pain. However, you can claim compensation for these damages through a medical malpractice lawsuit with the help of a Kansas City medical malpractice lawyer.
How Can a Hospital Be Liable for Medical Malpractice?
You are able to hold any medical professional who treated you in a professional capacity accountable for an act of medical malpractice — from doctors to nurses to specialists like anesthesiologists, obstetricians, and surgeons. However, you can only hold hospitals liable for your injuries under specific circumstances.
First, you will need to determine the employment status of the medical professional directly responsible for your injuries. If he or she was an employee of the hospital at the time, you can hold the hospital responsible in your lawsuit as well.
However, many doctors and other specialists are independent contractors that simply operate out of the facility. In these circumstances, there are two scenarios in which you can hold the hospital accountable.
- Hospitals have a responsibility to ensure that their contractors are competent and not a liability to patients or the facility itself. If the professional had a history of dangerous or negligent behavior, such as consuming drugs or alcohol on the job or prescribing the wrong medication repeatedly, and the hospital knew but failed to take action, you could hold the hospital liable.
- Hospitals must inform you if the professional who is treating you is an employee of the hospital or not. Usually, the facility will note this distinction on your admission paperwork. If the professional was an independent contractor and the hospital failed to inform you of this fact, you can claim that the professional appeared to be an employee and hold the hospital accountable in your lawsuit.
Are You a Victim of Medical Malpractice by a Liberty, MO Hospital?
You can experience medical malpractice at any medical facility — even hospitals and health centers in and around Liberty, Missouri. If you recently visited Liberty Hospital and believe that you could be a victim of medical malpractice, you need an experienced Kansas City personal injury attorney on your side to help you recover the compensation you need to heal.
Hiring a lawyer to assist you with your medical malpractice case can provide a number of benefits to you and your lawsuit. Your skilled medical malpractice attorney will have the experience within the practice area and in the courtroom that you need to argue successfully for your right to compensation. Your lawyer can provide you with the resources you need to present a compelling case in front of a judge and jury.
If you’re looking for an attorney to assist you with your claim, look no further than Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and begin filing your medical malpractice claim.