Hospitals and other healthcare establishments sometimes ignore their responsibility to provide patients with a clean and safe environment in which to receive medical care. The truth is, a 2002 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) came to the conclusion that around 1.7 million healthcare associated infections (HAIs) as well as an estimated 99,000 associated fatalities happened in U.S. hospitals during that year alone. Unfortunately, many resulted from negligence (failing to exercise that degree of skill and proper care commonly required of professionals under similar circumstances) on the part of a medical facility employees and/or doctors. An experienced injury attorney should have practical experience representing people injured by hospital acquired infections and diseases and be prepared to work with you.
Using apparatus which is not thoroughly sterilized or disinfected is a major safety concern and a major contributor to the transmission of HAIs and disease. This can be illustrated by a recent paper article which reports that up to 1200 veterans might have been exposed to an infection after being treated with improperly sterilized equipment in the ENT clinic at the Veterans Administration Hospital (VA) in Augusta GA. (Augusta Chronicle 9/9/09) Procedures which utilize endoscopes, syringes, surgical instruments, multi-dose vials as well as other sorts of reusable equipment call for diligence in sterilization and disinfection on the part of medical practitioners. Frequently, however, negligence occurs and infection or disease is transmitted to a normally healthy individual.
Examples of infections and diseases frequently transmitted are:
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis B
- E-Coli
- Salmonella
- Tuberculosis
- HIV (AIDS)
- Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
- Staphylococcus (Staph infection)
If you or someone you know has experienced this type of injury, call an experienced accident lawyer for a free consultation to find out about processing a medical malpractice claim.
Contact Augusta Georgia Personal Injury Attorneys immediately if you have been affected by an accidental injury.
An Accident Attorney in Augusta GA might be able to get you the compensation that’s rightfully yours.
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