When you go to the hospital, you trust that the staff will do everything in their power to make sure you are taken care of and that you receive the best possible treatment. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes, hospitals make mistakes that can have serious consequences for patients. This is called hospital malpractice.
In Tennessee, medical malpractice cases are governed by the Tennessee Health Care Liability Act. This law sets forth the requirements that must be met for a plaintiff to bring a successful claim against a hospital.
Proving and Winning a Tennessee Hospital Malpractice Claim
Medical malpractice cases in Tennessee can be complex, and plaintiffs must often prove that the hospital breached the standard of care to prevail. The standard of care is defined as the degree of skill and learning ordinarily possessed and used by members of the medical profession under similar circumstances. In other words, it is what a reasonably prudent doctor or nurse would do under similar circumstances.
This can be difficult to establish, but it is essential to win a medical malpractice case in Tennessee. hospitals and medical professionals must be held accountable for their actions, and patients deserve compensation for their injuries. If you have been harmed by medical negligence, it is important to speak with an experienced attorney who can help you understand your rights and options.
There are many ways in which a hospital can breach the standard of care. Some common examples include:
Failing to properly monitor a patient’s condition
One of the most common types of medical malpractice is failing to properly monitor a patient’s condition. This can happen in several ways, but it typically occurs when a doctor or nurse fails to properly monitor a patient’s vital signs or medical status. This can often lead to serious complications or even death.
In some cases, it may also be considered medical malpractice if a doctor or nurse fails to properly communicate with a patient’s family about their condition. If you or someone you love has been injured due to medical malpractice, it is important to contact an experienced attorney who can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Ordering the wrong medication
One type of medical malpractice that is often overlooked is when a hospital orders the wrong medication for a patient. This can happen when the doctor writes the prescription down incorrectly, or when the pharmacy gives the patient the wrong medication. Either way, it is a serious error that can have dangerous consequences.
The wrong medication can interact with other medications the patient is taking, or it can simply not be effective in treating the condition. In some cases, it can even be harmful. If you have been given the wrong medication, it is important to contact your doctor or pharmacist right away. They will be able to correct the error and make sure you get the treatment you need.
Failing to timely diagnose a condition
Failing to timely diagnose a condition is a type of medical malpractice that can have serious consequences. When patients go to the hospital, they trust that their doctors will properly diagnose and treat their conditions. However, sometimes medical professionals fail to meet this standard of care, and patients suffer as a result.
Failing to timely diagnose a condition can lead to delayed treatment, which can in turn lead to more serious health complications. In some cases, patients may even die as a result of medical malpractice. If you or someone you love has been harmed by medical negligence, it is important to seek experienced legal help. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can review your case and help you understand your legal options.
Misreading lab results
There’s no such thing as a perfect hospital. But when medical professionals make errors, it can be disastrous. Misreading lab results is one type of medical error that can have grave consequences.
When test results are misinterpreted, patients may not receive the treatment they need promptly. This can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, which can result in serious health complications or even death. In some cases, patients may even file a medical malpractice lawsuit. To prevent this from happening, hospitals need to have systems in place to double-check lab results. This way, mistakes can be caught and corrected before patients are harmed.
Operating on the wrong body part
One of the most common types of medical malpractice is when a surgeon operates on the wrong body part. This can happen for several reasons, including miscommunication between the surgical team, incorrect patient records, or simply human error. Regardless of the cause, operating on the wrong body part is a serious medical mistake that can have devastating consequences for the patient.
In some cases, patients may require additional surgery to correct the mistake, and in rare cases, patients may even die as a result of the error. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, it’s important to consult with an experienced attorney who can help you protect your rights.
These are just some of how a hospital can negligently injure a patient. If you have been injured as a result of hospital malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
If you have been injured due to hospital negligence, you should contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better chance you have of success in your case. An experienced attorney will know how to investigate your claim and will fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
