Millions of people visit intensive care units (ICUs) around the country every year. Those who need ICU-level care are necessarily suffering from serious health issues, and they expect to receive the most thorough and timely care. One significant issue for people struggling in hospital ICUs is protocol failures, which could result in severe health consequences.
ICU protocol failures are types of medical malpractice that occur when a healthcare provider does not offer the expected standard of care. With help from a hospital injury lawyer, you can fight for compensation if you have suffered harm because of such a failure. Here’s what you should know.
Types of ICU Protocol Failures That Cause Injuries in Patients
There are numerous types of ICU protocol errors that could result in patient injuries.
Respiratory and Airway Protocol Failures
Patients requiring an artificial airway or mechanical ventilation can suffer injuries if healthcare providers don’t follow all intubation protocols correctly or cause an extubation. Blocked tubes are another problem. This can happen if there is inadequate suctioning or if there is a failure in the management of tracheostomy tubes.
Additionally, respiratory issues can result from ventilator mismanagement. In the most severe cases, aspiration can occur, which can cause a patient to experience respiratory distress and consequences like the development of pneumonia, other infections, or even respiratory collapse and death.
Medication Protocol Errors and Breaches
Medication errors in the ICU can lead patients to continue receiving certain drugs well past what they need. Dosage issues can happen, too, and patients can receive medications meant for someone else if protocols are not followed when doling out medications.
In some instances, patients could even suffer injuries to their kidneys from inappropriate IV fluid administration.
Infection Protocol Failures
Hospital injury lawyers can also assist patients who have sustained infections because of protocol failures in the ICU. If healthcare providers fail to follow sterile protocols, cross-contamination can result, leading to severe health consequences.
Additionally, pressure injuries can develop if providers fail to reposition patients as often as required by safety protocols. These types of infections are a top cause of hospital deaths.
Staffing and Communication Issues
In the ICU, communication is vital between care team members. If all protocols aren’t followed, there could be miscommunications during shift changes, which can contribute to patient injuries.
Staffing problems, like shortages, can mean distracted providers. They may confuse patients or forget to update medical records, leading to temporary patient harm or even permanent injuries.
Understanding Whether You Have a Claim as a Patient Who Experienced Harm
It’s not always easy to know if the injuries you have suffered are the result of medical malpractice. Some outcomes are impossible to prevent, so they would not necessarily be seen as malpractice. One of the first things that a hospital injury lawyer will do is conduct a thorough investigation into what caused your injuries in the ICU. They may rely on expert witnesses to offer testimony on whether another healthcare provider would have made the mistake that resulted in your losses.
With this information, they can then establish liability. The provider who failed to provide care in accordance with the standard of care will likely be responsible, but the hospital itself could be liable as well as a result of vicarious liability.
If the provider was not a hospital employee but was instead performing the procedure as an independent contractor, as some doctors do, then holding the hospital responsible would require showing that they were in some way negligent as well.
With a hospital injury lawyer by your side, you have a chance to identify all of the liable parties and address the full extent of your losses. Having representation also means that you won’t run the risk of missing the deadline for filing your claim.
In California, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice is three years from the injury or one year from its discovery, whichever occurs first.
Trusting a Dependable Hospital Injury Lawyer With Your ICU Error Claim
It can be daunting to even think about beginning a legal process after experiencing permanent injuries while getting care at a hospital ICU. You may be struggling with significant wounds and uncertainty about what your legal options are after patient harm.
If the nurses or surgical provider was negligent in their care, then you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. At The Trial Law Offices of Bradley I. Kramer, M.D., Esq., our team can provide the comprehensive legal support you need at this difficult time.
We can help you establish liability, calculate your damages, and negotiate your claims with the hospital’s insurance companies. Let us leverage our experience and dedication on your behalf to make this complex process easier. Contact our team to schedule a free case assessment with a skilled hospital injury lawyer today.