We depend on doctors and other health care professionals in emergency situations. In truth, we depend on them just as much in non-emergency medical situations. However, there are times when doctors and other medical professionals rush the care that they provide patients. This happens for a variety of reasons, but it can ultimately cause significant harm. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, our dedicated team is standing by to help when you need a Philadelphia rushed healthcare malpractice attorney. If you or a loved one have received inadequate care because a medical professional went too fast when handling your care, let us help secure any compensation you may be entitled to.
Most people realize that medical professionals are busy. Hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other medical facilities are usually hectic places. Far too often, doctors and other medical professionals are pulled in various directions at once while they work through diagnosing patients, treating patients, helping patients recover, and sending them back home with proper discharge orders and prescriptions.
However, there are times when some hospitals and physicians are driven by revenue. This can lead to rushed medical care. If medical professionals have to work at a high rate of speed to create a higher patient turnover rate, this can lead to an imbalance between adequate patient care and the proper functioning of the facility.
One thing is certain – when medical care is needlessly rushed, patients will eventually suffer.
Information provided by researchers at Johns Hopkins University shows us that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death across the country. These researchers say that around 250,000 people lose their lives each year due to preventable medical errors. Rushed healthcare in Philadelphia can lead to any number of mistakes occurring, including the following:
When a medical provider has established a relationship with a patient, commonly referred to as the doctor-patient relationship, they have established a duty of care known as the “medical standard of care.” If a medical professional fails to provide an adequate medical standard of care because they are in a hurry to get a patient out the door, this could constitute medical malpractice.
It is possible for being released too soon to be considered rushed healthcare. A doctor is supposed to evaluate their patients and make decisions about their care without worrying about freeing up a bed in the hospital. However, there are times when doctors simply make decisions to release patients from care so that a bed can open up for a new patient. The turnover rate at the hospital should never be the deciding factor when discharging a patient from care.
If you were discharged too soon and have to return to the same hospital or even go to a new one, for the same issue, it could be considered medical malpractice. In order for this situation to turn into a medical malpractice case, you need to look at it from the standpoint of another reasonable medical professional. For example, would a similarly-skilled doctor have released me given the circumstances of my treatment and my condition? If the answer is no, you might have the grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit for early discharge.
You should know that being readmitted and receiving treatment does not always mean you were harmed. For example, if you were readmitted and administered treatment you would have received had you not been previously discharged, and you did not suffer any additional harm to your condition, you might not have a case for medical malpractice.
Hospitals often feel rushed to discharge patients as quickly as possible because of a lack of beds or being short-staffed. These are issues that are caused by poor planning on the part of the hospital. If you suffered harm because you were discharged too soon from the hospital, you might be able to claim the following in a medical malpractice lawsuit with the help of a Philadelphia rushed healthcare malpractice attorney:
As a patient, you have certain rights that all hospitals and medical facilities must provide you. You can prevent being discharged prematurely by doing the following:
The most common form of early discharge in the United States is that of early infant discharge. Newborns should be kept at a minimum of 48 hours in the hospital before being discharged. Make sure you speak with a Philadelphia rushed healthcare malpractice attorney if you believe you suffered harm due to an early discharge or if your baby was discharged after spending less than 48 hours in the hospital after birth.
If you or somebody you care about has been injured because a medical professional rushed your care, contact an attorney as soon as possible. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, we have extensive experience handling complex medical malpractice cases, and we are ready to work on your behalf today. Our attorneys will work to secure full compensation for your losses, which can include the following:
When you need a Philadelphia rushed healthcare malpractice attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling our phone number.
We are highly selective in the cases we undertake to ensure that can give each client his full attention. You can schedule an appointment for a personal injury consultation at our Philadelphia office by calling us, or by filling out our online intake form.
