During certain times, hospitals can deal with high demand and can become unexpectedly overcrowded. This can be a serious problem, meaning essentially that more people need urgent care than there is the capacity to provide. If you believe that you or a loved one has experienced compromised care due to overcrowded hospitals, you may be able to gain back damages by making a medical malpractice claim.
It is possible to make a claim for medical malpractice when damages have occurred due to negligence. Negligence occurs when a medical professional breaches their duty of care toward a patient. The following is an overview of the possible ways in which hospital overcrowding can lead to medical malpractice.
Unsanitary conditions
An overcrowded hospital or emergency room can mean that more patients are packed together in tighter spaces, and hospital cleaners may not be staffed adequately to deal with hygiene demands. Additionally, personal hygiene may be compromised due to the lack of staff and facilities to meet the demand. This can lead to infection, the spreading of infectious diseases and in extreme cases, sepsis.
Delayed diagnosis
Medical professionals may be rushed into making quick diagnoses without making full investigations on patients. This could lead to incorrect diagnoses or delayed diagnoses, meaning that the patient is not able to get the appropriate treatment that will help them to recover. A delayed diagnosis can worsen the prognosis of the condition and cause unnecessary suffering.
Medical errors
When medical professionals are overstretched, they are more likely to make mistakes. This could lead to an error in medication, for example, the administering of the wrong type of medication or the wrong amount. It could also lead to testing being conducted incorrectly, or the incorrect reading and interpreting of test results.
If you or a loved one has been affected by overcrowded hospitals, you may want to consider making a medical malpractice claim to gain back the damages to which you are entitled.
