Fulton County Avoidable Infection Lawyer
The sanitary conditions of a hospital and the instruments used during surgical procedures are imperative to the health and wellbeing of patients. When unsanitary conditions are left untreated, patients could be vulnerable to dangerous — and sometimes deadly — infections. A Fulton County avoidable infection lawyer may be able to help if you have fallen victim to an avoidable infection due to a negligent medical provider.
Call an experienced avoidable infection attorney today to discuss what legal recourse could be possible in your case and learn how an in-house doctor could shed insight into a claim.
Common Types of Avoidable Infections
The following are common types of avoidable healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Pneumonia
Patients could acquire either viral or bacterial pneumonia in a medical facility. This type of avoidable infection is a common risk for individuals who are put on a mechanical ventilator.
Surgical Site Infections
When a patient is exposed to bacteria from an unclean hospital environment, implanted medical devices, or unsterile surgical instruments, serious surgical site infections could result.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Urinary tract infections are commonly caused by bacteria that enters the body via a catheter. If the drainage bag is not emptied frequently enough, bacteria contaminates the catheter when it is inserted, urine returns to the bladder, or the patient’s catheter is contaminated during a bowel movement, this could lead to a UTI.
Blood Stream Infections
One of the most common types of bloodstream infections is called a central line-associated bloodstream infection, or CLABSI. Common causes of CLABSI include poor hand hygiene, using the femoral vein when placing a catheter, insufficient precautions while placing a venous catheter, and not sterilizing the skin prior to inserting an IV, administering an injection, or making an incision.
Clostridium Difficile (C. diff) Infections
C. diff is a type of bacteria that resides in feces. If a patient ingests C. diff, this could lead to colon inflammation and severe infection. One of the most common ways this type of bacteria is spread is through unclean hands.
Compensation Which May Be Recovered
O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71 establishes a two-year window in which injured victims may file a civil lawsuit with the courts for compensation. A Fulton County avoidable infection attorney could help ensure compliance with the statutory limits, as failure to file a case by the deadline could lead to a dismissal.
There several different types of compensation that may be sought in an avoidable infection lawsuit, including those for past and future lost wages, past and future medical costs, loss of consortium, mental anguish, pain, and suffering.
Proving Malpractice in Fulton County
Per O.C.G.A. § 51-1-27, for an avoidable infection attorney in Fulton County to pursue damages on behalf of the victim, the medical provider must have failed to exercise a reasonable degree of care and skill in carrying out his or her duties. Accordingly, the elements of a successful malpractice are as follows:
- A duty of care existed between the patient and the medical provider (i.e. physicians have a duty of care to their patients to follow the standards of care accepted in the medical community).
- The medical provider breached this duty of care, whether by action or inaction.
- The medical provider’s breach directly caused the patient injuries which could have been avoided, were it not for his or her actions or failures to act.
- Damages, i.e. injury to the patient.
In addition, as outlined under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1, a plaintiff filing a medical malpractice lawsuit must also include an affidavit by a medical expert furnishing evidence of at least one instance of malpractice on the part of the medical provider. An accomplished attorney would hire medical experts who could review the injuries suffered by the victim and prove that these damages were caused by the provider’s negligence.
Call a Fulton County Avoidable Infection Attorney Now for a Free Case Review
Patients who endure sepsis and other serious complications that stemmed from an avoidable infection may be entitled to compensation for their financial, emotional, and physical losses endured. If you acquired an infection, and you suspect negligence on the part of a clinic, physician’s office, hospital, or other medical provider, do not delay to seek out knowledgeable legal counsel.
Contact a Fulton County avoidable infection lawyer today to set up your case consultation. Attorneys stand ready to speak directly to you and take your call after hours.
