Medical malpractice doesn’t always occur while you are under the care of a doctor in the hospital. Sometimes malpractice is the result of early hospital discharge. This occurs when a doctor or physician is negligent and prematurely discharges a patient from their care. Malpractice resulting from early hospital discharge most commonly involves newborns and post-surgery patients.
The medical malpractice attorneys of Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC have seen far too often how this negligent care tragically affects the lives of families.
Newborns are extremely delicate during their first few weeks of life. They require constant care and monitoring to assure their health and survival. The American Academy of Pediatrics requires a baby to be monitored in the hospital for at least 48 hours after birth. Before being discharged from the hospital, the infant must exhibit normal vital signs for the previous 12 hours and not be at risk for health complications. When an infant is the victim of early hospital discharge, it can result in nerve damage, oxygen deficiency, brain damage, and wrongful death. If the infant’s injury or illness could have been prevented by additional monitoring and tests, then it could be a case of medical malpractice.
Post-surgery patients can also be victims of early hospital discharge. Following surgery, a patient is highly susceptible to infections that can result in chronic illness and death. When these patients are discharged from the hospital without receiving proper testing and care, then this can be an occurrence of malpractice. The infection or illness could have been prevented if the physician had kept the patient in the hospital for a longer period of time. It can be difficult proving early hospital discharge, which is why you need an experienced medical malpractice attorney on your side. Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC gives every client the professional and personalized care they need for a complete recovery. We are dedicated to finding you and your family the justice you deserve. Call our medical malpractice attorneys today for a consultation, so we can review your case!