Hospital Infection Lawyers in Columbus, OH
We can fight for compensation for you
Hospital associated infections (HAIs) impact millions of people every year. Instead of going to a hospital and getting better, some people contract a serious infection during their hospital stay. Many hospital infections occur because of mistakes made by medical professionals. In certain extreme cases, patients can die as a result of a fatal hospital infection.
Our experienced Columbus hospital infection attorneys at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC can help you every step of the way. We know how to handle these cases because we have worked on many medical malpractice cases for years. As a result, we understand how the legal system works. We’re familiar with the state and federal laws governing medical malpractice claims in Ohio. We’re prepared to do the work that needs to be done to build the strongest possible legal case, including filing a wrongful death lawsuit if necessary on behalf of your family.
How are hospital infections caused by medical malpractice?
Many hospital infections occur because of medical malpractice, a term used to describe mistakes made by medical professionals that result in harm to patients. In terms of hospital infections, medical malpractice may involve:
- Unsanitary conditions due to hospital staff not properly cleaning facility
- Surgical instruments not properly sterilized, resulting in an infection
- Failure to properly monitor patients after a surgical procedure
- Misdiagnosis of an infection, resulting in failure to properly treat the infection
Whatever the cause of your hospital infection, if medical malpractice was a factor, it’s critical that you talk with an attorney as soon as possible to learn more about your legal rights.
What are common hospital infections?
Hospital infections caused by medical malpractice can cover a wide range. Some of the most common – and most serious – hospital infections caused by mistakes made by medical professionals include:
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) – This type of infection affects the urinary system, which includes your urethra, bladder, kidneys and ureter. Common types of UTIs include:
- Cystitis (bladder infection)
- Pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
- Urethritis (urethra infection)
- Surgical Site Infection (SSI) – This type of infection occurs at the location on the body where surgery took place. Sometimes, SSIs affect the skin. Other times, an SSI can affect someone’s internal organs. Either way, a surgical site infection caused by medical malpractice requires immediate medical attention and strong legal action.
- Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) – A type of lung infection which affects people using a ventilator, VAP often occurs due to germs in the tubes in the ventilator. This type of pneumonia infection is sometimes caused by the ventilator not being properly sterilized or properly maintained by medical professionals.
- Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) – This type of infection occurs when bacteria or other germs enter the bloodstream through a catheter or another type of central tube inserted into a patient’s chest, neck, groin or another body part. CLABSIs often occur due to unhygienic conditions involving unsterilized medical equipment.
- Bloodstream infections— When bacteria enters the bloodstream through a wound, serious infections can occur inside the body. Some bloodstream infections occur during surgery. Others occur due to injections involving unsanitary medical instruments. Either way, bloodstream infections can have serious medical consequences.
- Sepsis – This potentially-life-threatening medical condition involves the body’s reaction to an infection. In certain circumstances, an infection can trigger a chemical reaction which releases dangerous chemicals into someone’s bloodstream. If not treated promptly, someone can go into septic shock, which can be fatal in certain circumstances.
Whatever type of infection you’re dealing with due to medical malpractice, our law firm wants to help you hold the medical professional or institution responsible for your infection-related health crisis accountable.
What makes medical malpractice hospital infection cases so complicated?
You might think you don’t even need a medical malpractice lawyer if a health care professional made a mistake that resulted in a serious hospital infection or fatality. These legal cases often turn out to be very complicated for many different reasons, including:
- Medical professional denies causing your infection
- Medical professional claims your infection occurred outside hospital
- Medical professional or hospital refuses to cooperate with investigation
- Medical professional or hospital accidentally or intentionally destroys evidence
- The hospital claims your infection occurred due to a preexisting medical condition
- The hospital’s insurance company denies your infection claim
Don’t settle for their excuses. Hold hospitals and medical professionals accountable for their mistakes. Talk to an attorney at our Columbus law firm right away.
How can a medical malpractice lawyer help with my hospital infection case?
There are so many different ways an experienced hospital infection attorney can help with your medical malpractice case. Some of the ways include:
- Thoroughly investigate your hospital infection claim, including:
- Review the hospital’s inspection records for violations involving infections
- Consult with medical experts if necessary
- Deal directly with the hospital on your behalf
- Negotiate a settlement offer with the hospital on your behalf
- File a hospital infection lawsuit on your behalf if the hospital refuses to cooperate
- File a wrongful death lawsuit if necessary on your family’s behalf
- Represent you or your family at all court proceedings
Hospitals often take a strong legal stance in response to allegations of injuries or illnesses caused by infections involving medical malpractice. You can expect them to hire an attorney or an entire legal team to defend their actions. We can help you level the playing field and fight for your rights.
Hold medical professionals accountable for their actions
The clock is running when it comes to hospital infections involving medical malpractice. In Ohio, you often only have one year from the date of your injury to file a hospital infection lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, you could miss out on your opportunity for justice.
Take your hospital infection seriously right from the start. Contact our law firm and schedule your free case evaluation. Our Columbus medical malpractice lawyers can thoroughly investigate your claim and demand the financial compensation you rightfully deserve.