A medical malpractice attorney in Long Island knows that some nursing mistakes may lead to serious illness or injuries. As a result, you may be able to file a claim seeking compensation for the damages you have experienced.
What Is nursing malpractice?
Nurses have a responsibility to properly care for any patient under their charge. If there is a failure to do so and it leads to the patient suffering harm, the nurse may be held liable through a malpractice claim.
However, the nurse may not be the only one at fault. For instance, the hospital that employs the nurse could also be held liable. If the attending doctor was present during the nursing mistake, he or she may have some responsibility as well.
In order to prove nursing malpractice, you will need to show that there was a deviation from the standard of care, and as a result you suffered serious injuries or illness. Standard of care varies from state to state, however, which will require some research on your part. Or, you could obtain the services of a law team that deals with medical malpractice regularly and will know how to handle the standard of care in your state.
Common Types of Nursing Mistakes
One of the most common types of mistakes concerns medication, as nurses are often responsible for making sure the patient receives it.
Serious complications may arise from nurses administering the:
- medication incorrectly;
- wrong type of medicine; or
- wrong dosage.
Another common mistake is causing injury to a patient with equipment. For instance, if a nurse is assisting with a surgical procedure and he or she fails to remove a tool from the patient’s body, this could lead to a malpractice claim.
Another mistake can involve improperly monitoring a patient. Monitoring patients is often the responsibility of nurses. Failure to properly perform this job duty could cause injury to the patient. If the patient is experiencing an emergency medical situation caused by a lack of proper monitoring, the nurse could be responsible.
In some situations, a nurse may be aware of a problem the patient is experiencing, or should have been aware, yet fails to tell the doctor. In other cases, a patient alarm could be going off and the nurse may disregard it, a situation known as alarm fatigue.
Nurses assist in various areas of the medical field, from surgery, labor and delivery, to the emergency room. If there is a deviation from the standard of care expected and serious illness or injury is the result, a claim may be filed.
Evidence in a Nursing Malpractice Case
In order to prove that nursing mistakes were caused by negligence, you will need to have adequate evidence such as the following:
- lab results;
- medical records;
- documentation of injuries;
- expert testimony;
- medical/hospital expenses;
- depositions;
- affidavits; and
- any other documentation related to your injuries.
Every case is different with varying circumstances that will determine the type of evidence you need. Working with an attorney can ensure that all of the necessary documentation, records, and reports are collected.
Contacting a Medical Malpractice Attorney in Long Island
Laws surrounding medical malpractice can change and they can be different across states. This is why you should speak as soon as possible to a medical malpractice attorney in Long Island who can provide the most current information you need.
An attorney from Gacovino, Lake & Associates can help determine the types of compensation that may be available if you were injured as a result of nursing negligence.
Damages could include your:
- medical costs;
- lost earnings;
- mental anguish; and
- more.
Don’t delay in learning what legal options could be available and what you need to do in order to protect your rights. Call us today at 1-800-246-4878.
