Hospital Negligence

Pittsburgh Hospital Negligence Lawyer For Victims Of Medical Negligence By Nurses, Interns, Residents And Lab Techs

Hospitals are responsible for the behavior of the people they employ. If the doctors, nurses, interns, residents and laboratory technicians that work for the hospital commit medical malpractice, hospitals can be held accountable for the injuries and damage done.

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for mistakes to be made in hospitals, and there are many different ways that serious errors can happen. Many hospitals and treatment facilities are understaffed these days, especially in states like Pennsylvania where we have an aging population. Lack of adequate staffing leads to all kinds of other problems, such as poor training, overworked and overly stressed employees, and a disorganized and chaotic work environment. All of these factors make hospital negligence more likely to occur.

If you or a loved one has been injured because of hospital negligence, contact the attorneys at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., to learn about your options. For half a century, our attorneys have been fighting for injury victims in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and throughout United States. Our firm focuses exclusively on personal injury and related areas of the law, and we have a successful track record with even the most complex cases.

When we take on a case, we go to work immediately to thoroughly investigate the facts and gather all of the important pieces of evidence. This is especially important in hospital malpractice cases where evidence has a tendency to disappear rapidly over time. We work hard to hold those responsible for our clients’ injuries fully accountable, and we have the experience, skills, knowledge, and resources to help ensure that our clients are in the best possible position to recover maximum compensation.

Examples of Hospital Negligence

There are numerous ways that hospital negligence and malpractice can occur, some common examples include:

• Doctors misdiagnosing a medical condition or failing to diagnose a condition altogether.

• Failure to order imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs that could have helped diagnose and effectively treat a medical condition.

• Nurses failing to properly monitor women in labor.

• Hospital laboratories substituting one patient’s results for another.

• Prescribing the wrong medication, giving the patient the wrong dosage, or mixing up prescriptions and giving the medication to the wrong patient.

• Medical residents failing to read test results before they act.

• Interns and nurses that fail to communicate their findings and information to the treating physician.

• Hospitals discharging a patient prematurely.

• Failure of the hospital to provide proper follow-up care.

Some forms of hospital negligence involve a wrongful act by an employee, while others involve a larger issue of corporate negligence, such as a hospital procedure or protocol that leads to a patient getting injured. Either way, the hospital can be held liable as long as the following elements are proven:

• The hospital owed the patient a duty of care (this is already implied if the patient sought care from the hospital);
• The hospital and/or one of its employees violated the applicable standard of care;
• There is a causal connection that can be established between the negligent conduct and the resulting injury to the patient.

What Are The Most Frequent Types Of Medication Errors In Hospitals In Pennsylvania?

Medication errors are among the most common preventable medical mistakes that occur in hospitals. These errors can happen during prescribing, preparing, dispensing, administering, or monitoring medications. While many mistakes are identified before they reach the patient, others can result in serious injuries, prolonged hospital stays, or even death. Understanding the most frequent types of medication errors can help patients and their families recognize when something may have gone wrong and why careful medical practices are so important.

Incorrect Medication Prescribed

One of the most common medication errors involves prescribing the wrong drug. A healthcare provider may accidentally select a medication with a similar name or choose an inappropriate drug for a patient’s condition. This can happen because of communication problems, incomplete medical records, or simple human error. Receiving the wrong medication may fail to treat the original condition while causing harmful side effects or unexpected complications.

Wrong Dosage Given

Dosage mistakes occur when a patient receives too much or too little of a medication. Even a small dosing error can have serious consequences, especially for children, older adults, or patients with kidney or liver problems. An excessive dose may lead to toxic reactions, while an insufficient dose may leave the medical condition untreated. Accurate calculations and careful review are essential before medications are administered.

Administering Medication To The Wrong Patient

Hospitals care for many patients at the same time, making patient identification extremely important. Mistakes can occur if healthcare providers fail to verify a patient’s identity before giving medication. Most hospitals require staff to check identification bracelets and confirm patient information before administering drugs. Skipping these safety steps increases the risk of serious medication errors.

Incorrect Route Of Administration

Some medications must be given in a specific way, such as by mouth, intravenously, through an injection, or by another method. Administering medication through the wrong route can reduce its effectiveness or cause severe harm. For example, medication intended for intravenous use may not be safe if given another way. Proper training and attention to instructions help prevent these mistakes.

Allergic Reactions Due To Missing Information

Patients often provide information about allergies during admission. If this information is overlooked or not documented correctly, a patient may receive a medication that triggers an allergic reaction. These reactions can range from mild skin irritation to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Careful review of medical records before prescribing or administering medication is an important safety measure.

Dangerous Drug Interactions

Many hospitalized patients take multiple medications at the same time. Certain drugs can interact with each other and create harmful side effects or reduce the effectiveness of treatment. Healthcare providers should carefully review all medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements, before adding new medications to a patient’s treatment plan.

Failure To Monitor Patients

Medication safety does not end after the drug is given. Some medications require close monitoring to ensure they are working properly and not causing dangerous side effects. Patients receiving blood thinners, insulin, pain medications, or certain antibiotics may need regular testing or observation. Failing to monitor patients can delay recognition of complications and allow injuries to become more severe.

Delayed Or Missed Medication

Patients sometimes do not receive medications at the scheduled time, or doses may be skipped entirely. Delayed treatment can worsen infections, increase pain, or reduce the effectiveness of medications that depend on consistent timing. Hospitals use medication schedules and electronic systems to reduce these errors, but delays can still occur during busy shifts or communication breakdowns.

Labeling And Pharmacy Errors

Medication mistakes may also happen before drugs reach the patient. Pharmacy staff may prepare the wrong medication, apply an incorrect label, or package the wrong dosage. Similar-looking packaging or medications with similar names can contribute to these errors. Multiple verification procedures are designed to catch these problems before medications are delivered to hospital units.

Understanding Medication Safety and Legal Recourse

Most hospitals in Pennsylvania have policies and technology designed to reduce medication errors, including electronic prescribing systems, barcode scanning, and patient identification procedures. Even with these safeguards, mistakes can still occur when healthcare providers fail to follow established safety protocols.

Under Pennsylvania law, victims of medical malpractice—including those harmed by medication errors—must establish that a healthcare provider’s conduct deviated from the accepted standard of care. To pursue a claim, patients generally must file a Certificate of Merit within 60 days of filing a complaint, confirming that an appropriate licensed professional has reviewed the claim and found a reasonable probability that the defendant’s conduct fell outside acceptable professional standards.

Furthermore, medical malpractice claims in Pennsylvania are subject to a statute of limitations typically set at two years from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered, as outlined in 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524. Additionally, Pennsylvania law includes a statute of repose, generally barring medical malpractice actions filed more than seven years after the alleged act of negligence, pursuant to 40 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1303.513, which is part of the broader Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act. Patients who suffer harm because of preventable medication errors may have questions about their rights and should consult with a qualified attorney to determine if their medical care met the required standards.

Hospital Malpractice Claims for Negligent Acts by Non-Employee Medical Providers

If a patient is injured by a hospital employee’s negligence, the hospital can clearly be held liable. But what if the injury occurred because of the actions of a non-employee, such as a surgeon who is an independent contractor? In cases like this, things are not as clear-cut.

If a doctor who is an independent contractor is guilty of medical malpractice, then you might only have a case against the doctor. However, there are some instances in which a hospital could also be held responsible under the legal theory of “ostensible agency”. To sue a hospital under this theory, you would need to prove that a reasonable person (i.e., the patient who was injured) would be justified in believing that the care which caused them harm was rendered by the hospital or its agents.

The hospital could also be held responsible (for a non-employee doctor’s negligent actions) if it can be shown that they knowingly contracted with and continued to employ the services of a doctor who was known to be incompetent or dangerous.

Holding All Hospitals to The Same Standard

In hospital malpractice cases, the standard of care is a very important legal concept. In order for you to succeed in your case, your attorney must show that the hospital involved breached the accepted professional standard of care — the level of care, skill and treatment that is recognized as appropriate by health care providers in similar situations.

Under Pennsylvania law, every hospital is held to the same standard. Whether they are a small, rural hospital or a large urban complex, they are legally obligated to treat patients in the same manner. The law recognizes that technology makes this possible. Due to advances in communication, if there is no specialist on staff at a rural hospital, there is no reason one cannot be found. Failing to seek the guidance of a specialist can be considered medical malpractice in certain situations.

Damages Recoverable in Pennsylvania Hospital Malpractice Cases

The injuries and deaths caused by negligence on the part of hospitals and their staff can take an enormous toll on victims and their families. When a facility that they trusted to provide professional medical care violates that trust, the impact can go far beyond just the physical harm that was caused.

As a result, hospital negligence victims are frequently able to recover damages not only for direct monetary losses such as the medical costs necessary to correct the injury (that the negligence caused) and lost earnings, but also for noneconomic losses such as pain-and-suffering, mental anguish, psychological distress, diminished quality of life, and permanent injury. Each case is unique, and our attorneys thoroughly assess the specific circumstances around the injury to determine the amount of damages our client is entitled to.

Contact Our Experienced Pittsburgh Hospital Negligence Attorneys

Regardless of the nature of your experience in the hospital, if you have suffered a life-changing injury or the death of a loved one, talk with our attorneys about your legal options. Contact the lawyers at the Pittsburgh law office of Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., by calling us at 412-391-9860 in Pittsburgh or Western Pennsylvania, or toll free at 866-466-5789. You may also complete our online contact form. Initial consultations are free and confidential.