Hep C outbreak results in malpractice suit

Residents of Louisiana who are visiting hospitals rarely believe that they will contract an illness while receiving treatment for another. They are lead to believe that the hospital policies and procedures will prevent such a thing from happening. However, if an infection is released within a hospital, the resulting outbreak can cause long-term damage, and victims may choose to file a malpractice lawsuit.

Two years ago, in 2016, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention conFirmed that several patients being treated at two different medical centers contracted hepatitis C between the years of 2011 and 2015. More than 7,000 patients were thought to have been exposed. It was alleged that the outbreak could be linked to a single nurse who worked at both locations during the time.

One of the patients, who was infected in 2011, has filed a lawsuit naming this nurse and accusing her of using contaminated items such as needles and medications. According to the lawsuit, the nurse gave the patient a number of different medications and then later changed reports to say that nothing had been given. Before using the medications on her patients, the suit claims that the nurse used them on herself. Later, after the nurse admitted to stealing drugs from one of her employers, she was fined and her nursing license was revoked. Other hospital employees were also accused of failing to perform duties that could have prevented or at least limited the possibility of patient injuries.

Patients living in Louisiana who have been injured or who have contracted an illness due to hospital negligence may wish to speak with a local attorney about filing a malpractice lawsuit. These victims may be entitled to compensation. This may include payments for additional medical costs, loss of income, or other damages.