Warning Signs
More than 30 million surgical procedures are performed in hospitals throughout the country every year. It is critical that health care providers sterilize instruments and equipment prior to each use to ensure they are free from bacteria and other harmful blood born pathogens. Inadequate sterilization can lead to surgical infections, causing serious, life threatening complications, extensive hospital stays, and even death. Infections resulting from surgery are one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death in patients in the U.S. Contaminated instruments can lead to Hepatitis A, B, and C; HIV/AIDS; MRSA staph infections; Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease; gastrointestinal infections; tuberculosis; pneumonia; and endocarditis.
Diagnosis & Care
Surgical devices are used in a variety of settings to help physicians effectively and skillfully treat patients. Because of the nature of surgery and contagious disease, surgical instruments must be sterilized properly prior to each use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains guidelines for disinfection and sterilization of surgical instruments in health care facilities. When individuals undergo medical procedures, surgery, and other kinds of treatment in health care settings, patient’s trust that the health care professionals will keep them safe from infection or illness from other patients. It is the duty of health care providers to maintain sanitized facilities and use sanitized equipment.
Expenses
Medical professionals are required to follow meticulous and systematic decontamination guidelines to protect patients. If a professional acts negligently, he or she can and should be held responsible for any resulting damages. If you or a loved one contracted an infection or disease that you believe was caused by contaminated instruments or equipment, you may be entitled to compensation for any physical injury as well as the stress of financial difficulty and emotional trauma. Contact the medical malpractice lawyers at the Law Offices of Wais, Vogelstein, and Bedigian for a free consultation with an experienced and compassionate attorney.
Treatment Centers
The nature of the work that is done in hospitals means that they are teeming with all types of diseases, harmful bacteria, and viruses. If facilities are not kept clean and sterilized at all times, disease will spread and have particularly detrimental effects on those with already weakened and compromised immune systems. Not only do instruments need to be properly disinfected, but rooms, bedding, and all other equipment and medical devices must be kept completely clean as well.