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Free ConsultationMedical doctors (MDs) diagnose, recommend treatment plans, and sometimes perform complex medical procedures. However, you will likely interact more frequently with a registered nurse (RN) than with an MD in a typical healthcare facility. An RN’s job may involve various tasks, including performing patient assessments and tests, administering medications, and even assisting with surgical procedures. Like MDs, RNs are expected to always be responsible and diligent.
If your nurse failed to meet the standard of care they owed you and caused you serious physical harm as a result, you may be able to file a lawsuit against them for malpractice and seek compensation for damages. However, pursuing this type of claim can be very challenging without the support of a skilled medical malpractice attorney. If you want to explore your options in this regard, you should consult a Philadelphia nurse error lawyer from Lowenthal & Abrams.
What Does Nursing Malpractice Look Like?
Physicians are expected to meet a certain standard of care when establishing a doctor–patient relationship. This essentially means they are obligated to act in the same manner as any equally qualified physician would act while interacting with and treating a particular patient. For nurses, the standard of care generally requires them to:
- Maintain accurate records of each patient’s medical history and chart
- Correctly perform examinations and tests
- Communicate clearly with and follow instructions from other physicians
- Follow safe sanitary practices while on shift
A failure in any of these aspects that directly leads to a patient sustaining otherwise preventable physical harm can serve as grounds for a malpractice lawsuit. However, this only applies to serious errors that no other nurse with the same skills and experience would have committed under the same circumstances.
Pursuing this action alone can be challenging for an injured plaintiff. Therefore, having the support of a seasoned attorney can be crucial for a successful nursing malpractice claim in Philadelphia.
Recovering Short-Term and Long-Term Losses
Through a successful lawsuit or settlement demand, it is possible to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages resulting from a nursing error. These damages may include:
- Costs of additional medical care made necessary by the error
- Disability-related expenses, including assistive equipment and home modifications
- Lost short-term work income or long-term working ability
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Emotional suffering and trauma
- Lost enjoyment and quality of life
If a nursing error causes a permanent and debilitating injury, state law generally gives the victim only two years to file suit after initially discovering the injury. This can be a very short timeframe for constructing a comprehensive claim. However, a qualified malpractice lawyer in Philadelphia can help you pursue a claim for the nurse’s mistake within the applicable deadline.
Contact a Philadelphia Attorney for Assistance With Your Nursing Malpractice Case
Nurses play a vital role in the modern healthcare industry, but workplace errors can have life-altering or even life-threatening consequences. Fortunately, you have the right to seek civil compensation from any healthcare professional, including an RN, who harms you through professional misconduct.
Guidance from a Philadelphia nurse error lawyer can make a significant difference in how effectively you are able to pursue the restitution you deserve. Call Lowenthal & Abrams today to schedule an initial consultation.
