With the amount of education available regarding clean needs and the importance health care facilities put on such processes, it might surprise readers to know that injection errors and poor practices still lead to a significant number of infections or patient injuries. According to statistics, from 2001 through 2011, more than 130,000 people in the United States were exposed to potential infection due to injection practices that are considered unsafe.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider infections and other issues associated with poor injection practices to be preventable medical errors. The government agency even publishes specific rules and guidelines for injections in a health care environment. Guidelines include the importance of using new needles and syringes for each injection.
Improper Medical Practices
Both state and federal law provide consequences for improper medical practices, particular when those practices lead to injuries for patients. In some cases, improper injection procedures might lead to audits, regulatory fines and reduced or retracted payments from third-party payers such as Medicare. The law also provides patients with the ability to seek compensation for losses associated with such injuries.
Individuals who experience an infection that can be traced back to an improper or unsafe injection might have a case for compensation. Compensation sought in such cases might include payment of medical bills associated with the infection, funds to cover lost wages if the person could not work because of the infection and even pain and suffering if the infection caused emotional or other hardship for the patient.
Understanding what type of compensation to seek and the burden of proof associated with each is required when filing and pursing a medical malpractice case. Working with an experienced legal professional helps you increase the chances of a successful outcome.
