The general answer to this question is, yes. However, the specific answer to a situation is dependent on specific factors that have resulted in the injury. When a person has suffered bodily injury at the hands of hospital staff or even a doctor or practitioner, there can be a lot of questions related to liability. While doctors cannot prevent all injuries or illnesses, they can ensure that their own actions aren’t a contributing factor to injury.
What this means is that doctors and hospital staff are expected to perform at a level of proficiency in accordance with their peers. If a doctor’s treatment plan, surgical decision or indecision has left a patient with worsened injury or a completely new medical ailment, they could be held responsible. This would be classified as doctor error or hospital negligence, depending on the situation. Medical records are one piece of the puzzle that can help prove this type of accusation.
Although the doctor or hospital staff person may have had no ill-will associated with their action, it can be called negligence regardless. Most caretakers have the best intentions at heart, however, mistakes can happen. If this type of scenario has made a victim of yourself or a loved one, do not delay. Statute of limitations in Pennsylvania limits the amount of time that an injured patient has to file for a hospital malpractice claim.
Even if you like your doctor, they or their staff could have committed an error that qualifies for a medical malpractice claim. If someone is responsible for an injury, shouldn’t that person be held accountable? Medical bills can become out of control, fast. Get on top of those unexpected expenses with a settlement earned in a medical malpractice case.
Source: FindLaw, “Proving Fault in Medical Malpractice Cases,” Accessed April 11, 2016