Is a Doctor Liable When a Patient Contracts a MRSA Infection?
Contracting dangerous infections like MRSA could have been a result of medical malpractice.
When a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional commits medical malpractice, they are putting patients directly at risk for a variety of injuries, including infections. One of the most dangerous infections that can spread due to medical malpractice is methicillin-resistant aureus, better known as MRSA. If you or a loved one contracted MRSA due to a doctor’s negligence, it’s important to speak with an experienced Maryland medical malpractice attorney.
Learn More About MRSA
MRSA is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. MRSA is resistant to commonly used antibiotics, making it more difficult to treat than most strains of staph. Common MRSA symptoms include mild infections on the skin, such as sores, and serious skin infections. MRSA can also infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, and even the lungs. Many MRSA infections are not considered severe, but others can be life-threatening. Depending on the severity of the infection and the state of the patient, MRSA can lead to pneumonia, sepsis, and death.
MRSA and Medical Malpractice
With the help of a medical malpractice attorney in Maryland, you or your loved one can file a medical malpractice claim against the doctor or hospital that inflicted your MRSA infection. You must first establish the four necessary elements of medical malpractice:
- The Physician/Medical Facility Owed You a Duty of Care
“Duty of care” obligates the doctors or medical professionals who provide treatment to offer care that meets acceptable medical standards. In MRSA medical malpractice cases, medical professionals may fail to follow the protocol that prevents the spread of infection such as sterilizing medical equipment.
- There Was a Breach in Duty of Care
Every medical malpractice case is different, but it’s essential to show that the duty of care was breached. For example, did the doctor fail to diagnose your MRSA infection, and it grew more severe? Depending on your case, the duty of care was breached.
- The Breach of Duty Led to the Infection
It’s not enough for claimants to show that negligence occurred. You or your loved one must prove that the negligent act directly led to the MRSA infection. Unfortunately, MRSA infections can be difficult to pinpoint, so it’s important to work with an attorney that has access to medical experts.
- You Experienced Damages
Lastly, you or your loved one must show that you experienced economic or non-economic damages. Examples of damages include hospital bills, lost wages, and emotional distress.
Contact The Law Offices of Cardaro & Peek, LLC Today
Do you believe that you or your loved one has suffered as a result of medical malpractice or medical neglect? You need to talk to an experienced team of local lawyers today.
The lawyers at Cardaro & Peek, LLC have the experience and resources necessary to investigate and litigate all types of medical claims throughout Maryland and Washington D.C. Cardaro & Peek, LLC has medical personnel on staff and has access to nationally recognized, board-certified physicians and other experts, to assist in the investigation, analysis, and prosecution of all types of medical malpractice claims. If you or a loved one have experienced malpractice, give us a call at 410-752-6166. Please visit our website www.cardarolaw.com and follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn for more information.
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