Dearborn residents expect to not end up is a worse condition after going to the hospital. Unfortunately, this sometimes happens when physicians or staff members are less attentive to patient safety than they need to be. Although medical malpractice cases are traditionally filed against doctors due to their negligence, hospital malpractice does happen as well. A lawsuit recently filed in a nearby community illustrates how a hospital could be liable for negligence.
Four plaintiffs have filed suit against a hospital in Flint. The plaintiffs are three patients who contracted Legionnaires' disease and the estate of another patient who died as a result of the disease. According to the paperwork filed with the suit, the four patients got Legionnaires' after being treated at the hospital. One of the plaintiffs' lawyers described the situation as a crisis and that it needed to be addressed immediately.
Everyone has heard of the problems that Flint residents have had with their water supply. It turns out that Michigan also seems to have a problem with Legionnaires' disease. Within the past two years, the Wolverine State has seen 87 cases of Legionnaires' disease with nine deaths. Legionnaires' disease is a bacterial infection that can result in headaches, high fever, muscle aches, coughing and shortness of breath for sufferers. About 10 percent of people who get Legionnaires' disease die from it.
Hospitals are supposed to be places where dangerous bacteria are contained and not spread from patient to patient. If the allegations of the plaintiffs are true, the hospital may be liable for hospital negligence. Victims of hospital malpractice should understand that they have recourse available to them. A medical malpractice claim could help them cover medical expenses and other losses and damages caused by the incident.
Source: Detroit Free Press, "Flint lawsuits could cost Michigan taxpayers millions," Jennifer Dixon, Feb. 21, 2016
