Can I File a Medical Malpractice Claim for a Hospital Acquired Infection?

06/26/2013 // New York Injury Accident Lawyer // Jonathan Reiter // (press release)

Hospitals are places people turn to for treatment of their ailments, and rarely does one expect that by seeking help they will be placed in a worse situation. Unfortunately, a number of people are exposed to infections from hospitals regularly. Risk factors associated with hospital acquired infections (HAIs) include unclean or unsanitary building surfaces and medical devices, substandard HVAC filtration systems, and low frequencies of hand washing by nurses and other medical staff, report Jonathan C. Reiter’s New York Medical Malpractice firm.

In instances where an infection is promptly identified and treated, patients can heal without suffering serious or long-term effects. Those who have acquired an infection that goes undiagnosed and untreated for an extended period of time may develop conditions that can lead to serious injury or even death. Sepsis is a potentially deadly condition caused by severe infection. Related symptoms include body inflammation, elevated breathing and heart rate, and a significant increase in a patient’s white blood cell count.

Patients or their loved ones, in the event of a patient’s death, may have valid grounds for filing a medical malpractice claim if an infection acquired from time spent at a hospital has caused them harm. Hospital acquired infections are categorized as those that develop during a hospital stay that are not linked to the condition that a patient was diagnosed with prior to, or after admittance. Individuals who present symptoms of an infection within 48 hours after being admitted to a hospital, that are unrelated to the condition they were seeking treatment for, may have an HAI.

The Law Firm of Jonathan C. Reiter is available to help New York hospital patients who have developed a hospital acquired infection related injury such as sepsis enforce their legal rights to compensation. If you have questions about your New York City Medical Malpractice legal options after being injury by a HAI, contact the firm today to arrange a free consultation to discuss your case.

Media Information:

Address: New York, NY
Phone: (212) 736-0979
Url: New York Injury Accident Lawyer