Most people, whether they live here in New York or elsewhere in the nation, oftentimes have incredibly high expectations when it comes to the hospitals they visit. Patients expect that hospital staff are well trained and know what they are doing. Patients also expect that they will receive a high standard of care and that no mistakes will be made during their stay at the hospital.
It’s because of these incredibly high expectations that hospitals all over New York and the nation must do everything in their power to avoid making any costly mistakes, especially because medical mistakes can lead to potentially damaging litigation.
A look at HAIs and a potential lawsuit
According to the Centers for Disease Control, a healthcare-associated infection, or HAI, occurs in 1 in 25 patients. An HAI can easily complicate existing health conditions for patients and may even lead to death. It’s a problematic situation, as you can imagine, most hospitals would like to prevent.
Because HAIs can be grounds for a medical malpractice or personal injury lawsuit, many hospitals are trying to mitigate a patient’s chances of contracting an HAI by doing things such as practicing better hand hygiene and improving cleaning practices. By making an effort to eliminate the risk of contamination and a potential HAI, hospitals all over the country have reduced their risk of liability in potential litigation.
The right to legal representation
Because there are no guarantees that a medical mistake will not occur and that the affected patient or their family will not seek compensation, it’s important to remember that just like individuals, hospitals also have the right to legal representation when facing civil actions.
By obtaining legal services from a skilled medical malpractice defense law firm, hospitals can ensure that their rights are protected and that the future litigation they could face is being handled by someone who has the hospital’s best interests in mind.
Sources: The Centers for Disease Control, “Healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs),” Accessed Oct. 6, 2015
Tech Times, “Dirty Hospitals Lead To Deadly Infections: New Study Finds Lapses In Cleaning Practices Of Health Facilities,” Rina Marie Doctor, Aug. 13, 2015
The World Health Organization, “Improved Hand Hygiene to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections,” Accessed Oct. 6, 2015