Can I Sue the Hospital If I Contracted a MRSA Infection?

Posted: Mar 13, 2017 1:14 PM

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is a bacterium that causes infection throughout the body, typically starting in the skin. Because MRSA is resistant to some of the most common antibiotics, treating it is incredibly challenging.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MRSA can cause sepsis if left untreated. Sepsis is a severe, life-threatening infection, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences reports that more than 1 million Americans contract severe sepsis annually. Between 28 percent and 50 percent of those who get it die.

Anyone is at risk of contracting MRSA because it spreads via contact with items that have touched the infected skin of those who already have it. The CDC reports that individuals who have recently received care at an inpatient facility are at an especially high risk of contracting it.

If you or your loved one contracted MRSA after undergoing a medical procedure and you think it occurred as a direct result of your provider’s negligence, turn to the Law Office of Randolph C. Wood, PLLC. Your wrongful death attorney will assess your case to determine if you may be entitled to compensation for healthcare bills, lost wages, and non-economic damages. Call 601-709-3584 to schedule an initial consultation with Randolph C. Wood, your Jackson medical malpractice lawyer.

Can I Sue the Hospital after Contracting a MRSA Infection?

If you contracted a staph infection following a medical procedure and you are certain it is because the hospital staff did not provide a reasonable standard of care, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim; however, these claims are incredibly difficult to prove. It is entirely possible for patients to contract MRSA even when healthcare providers are professional and attentive, so you or your lawyer will have to present clear evidence that ties your infection to an act of medical negligence.

Luckily, there are several legal strategies at your attorney’s disposal to prove that a healthcare provider’s negligence caused a staph infection. For example, although MRSA infections are common in hospitals, healthcare providers still have an obligation to discuss the potential risk with every single patient.

If you contracted a staph infection and you believe that the hospital staff did not give you an opportunity to opt out of the procedure because of the high risk of MRSA, you can claim a lack of informed consent. This strategy can even work in cases in which the infection was not preventable.

Can I Sue the Hospital Even If the Staff Is Not Responsible for Causing the Infection?

If you contracted a staph infection following a medical procedure despite the fact that hospital staff informed you of the risk and did everything in their power to prevent one, you might assume that you do not have a case. If the hospital staff failed to provide adequate treatment in a timely manner, though, you may still have a valid claim.

MRSA infections can cause serious harm if left untreated, and since they are so common in healthcare settings, doctors and nurses should know what to look for – even in the early stages. If your provider failed to diagnose and treat you despite the obvious onset of symptoms and it resulted in additional complications, you may have a valid malpractice claim.

If you contracted MRSA in a hospital setting and you are considering filing a lawsuit, turn to a medical malpractice lawyer at the Law Office of Randolph C. Wood, PLLC. Call 601-709-3584 to schedule an initial consultation with Randolph C. Wood, your Jackson medical negligence attorney.