If a nurse improperly uses medical equipment, you may experience personal injuries that require both immediate and continuous medical care. If you are giving birth and a nurse misuses a piece of medical equipment, then both you and your baby are at risk for a range of health complications. In infants, brain damage often results from the misuse of medical equipment. Infant brain damage during the birth process can create lifelong developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder.
When a nurse improperly uses medical equipment, they endanger their patients in many ways. If you or your baby were injured due to a nurse’s negligent behaviors, then you may be entitled to recover compensation to pay for the costs of your medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma. A lawyer who focuses on birth injury law and medical malpractice can defend your rights as they build a case to support your legal position.
Lawyers often begin by investigating the details of a situation. They may gather forms of evidence such as past medical records, witness reports, and healthcare documents. These forms of evidence and others serve to aid a legal team in establishing a liable party.
When the misuse of equipment is present in a case, lawyers may also investigate the role of the manufacturer. If faulty parts or defective parts were to blame for misuse, then the manufacturer may be held liable for any improper usage on behalf of the medical staff. These details and others may lead to a lawyer being able to recover funds to cover your costs as you recuperate from any injuries you sustained.
For a free legal consultation, call 1-800-222-9529
Common Causes of Improper Medical Equipment Use
Unfortunately, the misuse of medical equipment is a common form of medical malpractice in the United States. The causes of these acts vary in origin. Sometimes nurses and other medical workers are distracted by concerns in their environment. In other cases, a simple lack of attention may be to blame.
The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing highlights the wide range of risk factors that contribute to adverse events with medical equipment and devices. These risk factors can include environmental factors such as poor lighting in a patient room, excessive noise, and emergency situations. “Additionally the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2006) and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN, 2008) have both developed statements linking human (staff) fatigue with adverse events.”
If a hospital or other healthcare facility fails to provide safe working conditions for its employees, then some of the blame for misuse of medical equipment may fall to them. Healthcare facilities are bound by a complex network of federal and state laws. Interpreting them on your own can prove to be a difficult and challenging process. Lawyers who focus on medical malpractice can work on your behalf to determine which laws apply to your situation. They can also investigate an incident to gain clarity on who was liable for misuse of medical equipment.
In some cases, a piece of equipment may have unclear labeling or instructions, which can lead to improper use. As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes, there are comprehensive guidelines that serve to govern the labeling of equipment and devices used in a medical environment such as a hospital or doctor’s office. A failure to adhere to proper labeling may constitute an act of negligence that can lead to severe personal injury and wrongful death. Lawyers who focus on medical malpractice will often consider the role of the manufacturer when a nurse or other medical professional misuses a piece of medical equipment.
Birth Injury Lawyer Near Me 1-800-222-9529
Learn About Your Right to Compensation if the Improper Use of Medical Equipment Caused Injuries
If a nurse improperly uses a piece of medical equipment, the results can be catastrophic for those affected. Serious injuries and life-altering conditions are all too common in these cases of medical malpractice. If you are processing the harm of a negligent act like a misuse of medical equipment, then piling legal concerns on top of your troubles is enough to overwhelm you.
When you have a lawyer on your side, they can handle the tasks of communicating with other parties, interpreting federal and state laws, and pursuing any forms of compensation that you may be owed. Contact the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529 for a free consultation.
Call or text 1-800-222-9529
or complete a Free Case Evaluation form