MRSA Infection: When Can Medical Professionals be Held Liable?

Male Surgeon Wearing Scrubs Washing Hands Before Operation In Hospital Operating Theater

Medical malpractice puts patients at risk for many injuries and complications, including a variety of infections that put patients’ lives at risk.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA, is one of the most dangerous infections that can spread due to medical negligence in hospitals and other health care environments.

Our medical malpractice attorneys want you to be informed of the risks of contracting MRSA infections in medical facilities. If you suspect your infection is the result of medical malpractice, contact us today to discuss your case.

Dangers of MRSA

MRSA infections are resistant to many commonly-used antibiotics, making them very difficult to treat. The spread of MRSA in a hospital is especially dangerous because many patients have compromised immune systems due to illnesses or because they are recovering from a major surgery.

When overlooked or misdiagnosed, a MRSA infection can severely hinder a patient’s recovery and cause severe health issues, including:

  • Bloodstream infections
  • Surgical site infections
  • Pneumonia
  • Sepsis
  • Death

Elements of a MRSA Medical Malpractice Case

Suffering a MRSA infection does not automatically give you grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. You must first establish the four elements of medical malpractice, including:

  • The physician or medical facility owed you a duty of care – This obligates the physicians who provide treatment to provide care that meets accepted medical standards. Another way of saying it is that there is a legal requirement that you receive the same type of care that a similarly trained professional would provide if her or she were in a similar situation. For example, a doctor may have a duty of care to follow certain protocols to prevent infections like MRSA. This could include regular washing of hands and following sterilization procedures for medical equipment.
  • The duty of care was breached – In a MRSA case, the breach of duty of care could be a doctor’s failure to wash his or her hands or a failure of the hospital to institute appropriate standards of cleanliness. Medical professionals could potentially be held liable for failing to diagnose MRSA. However, it is difficult to prove misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis is medical malpractice.
  • The breach of duty of care led directly to your infection – It must be shown not only that negligent actions occurred, but they were the direct cause of the MRSA infection. This element can be difficult to prove because MRSA infections can be difficult to pinpoint.
  • Damages resulted from the injury – Damages include physical, financial and emotional effects caused by the MRSA infection, such as medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.

Contact Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Now

The medical malpractice attorneys of Janet, Janet & Suggs are prepared to fight to hold negligent health care providers and facilities accountable for the harm they have caused you.

We have many years of combined experience building medical malpractice cases to help victims obtain fair compensation for the damages they have suffered, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation today. We work on contingency so you only pay us if we secure compensation.

Call 1-877-692-3862 or complete our Free Case Evaluation form now.

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