Who Can Be Sued For Medical Malpractice?
When most individuals think of medical malpractice, they think of medical doctors. Indeed, in most cases, medical doctors are the ones who are sued for medical malpractice. However, contrary to popular belief, medical malpractice is not limited to medical doctors. Medical malpractice can be committed by many different healthcare providers, meaning that it is not only medical doctors who can be sued for medical malpractice.
Healthcare Providers Who Can Commit Medical Malpractice
Many healthcare providers can commit medical malpractice and be sued. Nurses, for example, can commit medical malpractice. The following are some of the negligent acts that a nurse can commit;
- Giving a patient the wrong medication
- Improperly administering medication
- Taking incorrect patient notes
- Not calling the doctor when they need to
- Purposefully neglecting a patient
- Making a mistake in a patient’s medical record
- Not following proper protocol after a surgery
- Ignoring symptoms of an injury
- Failing to tell the doctor about a patient’s complaint
Pharmacists are other healthcare professionals that can commit medical malpractice. There are many ways a pharmacist can engage in medical malpractice. Examples of negligent acts that a pharmacist can commit include;
- Failing to consider a patient’s medical history when giving them a prescription
- Not contacting a patient’s doctor if there are concerns about prescribed drugs
- Not ensuring that medications prescribed by different doctors can be taken together
- Failing to explain the potential side effects of a drug to a patient
- Dispensing the wrong dosage of a drug
- Dispensing the wrong drug
- Mislabeling
If your nurse or a pharmacist made a mistake due to negligence that caused you harm, you have the right to take legal action against them and hold them accountable.
Other medical professionals that can be sued for medical malpractice include;
- Paramedics and EMTs
- Physician’s assistants
- Dieticians
- Anesthesiologists
A Hospital or Medical Facility Can Also Be Held Liable
Hospitals or medical facilities can also be sued for medical malpractice. A hospital or medical facility can either be held directly liable for their negligence or “vicariously” liable for the negligence of an employee.
Some reasons that can lead to a hospital being held directly liable for their negligence include;
- Failing to conduct necessary background checks when hiring medical staff
- Failing to ask about an applicant’s qualifications
- Failing to address complaints about a medical staff
Hospitals are often held vicariously liable for negligent acts committed by nurses and medical technicians. Often, hospitals are not responsible for a doctor’s medical negligence. Usually, hospitals are held liable if a doctor is an employee of the hospital, and most doctors are independent contractors and not hospital employees. However, it is crucial to note that, sometimes, a hospital may be held directly or vicariously liable for the negligent acts of contractors it allows to work in outpatient facilities or emergency rooms.
Get Help With a Medical Malpractice Claim in London, Kentucky
If you have been injured due to medication, surgery, or another medical treatment and believe your injury was caused by the negligence of a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or any other healthcare professional, you need an attorney. Contact an experienced London medical malpractice attorney at Cessna & George Law Firm today to discuss your case.
