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Hospital negligence alleged after patients exposed to illness

June 12th, 2018
On behalf of David Bowling of The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, A Professional Law Corporation posted in Hospital Negligence on Tuesday, June 12, 2018.

Most patients do not consider the possibility that they may be exposed to a serious illness when they go to a hospital for the treatment of an illness or injury. Many Louisiana residents may already be aware that hospitals have a number of policies and procedures in place to help prevent the spread of illness by the staff. Unfortunately, sometimes, someone slips through the cracks, and even a single staff member can expose thousands of patients to illness. A hospital negligence suit has been filed against a hospital where thousands of patients were exposed by a nurse to tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is an illness that many people may already be familiar with. The illness primarily affects the lungs, is spread through sneezing and coughing, and can cause chest pains. The most recognizable symptom, however, is the coughing up of blood. What many may not know is that not all people infected with this illness show symptoms immediately. In fact, only one in ten will begin to show symptoms immediately, while the illness remains dormant in the others until their immune system is weakened.

One patient did not receive notice until April that she could have been exposed to the disease during her hospital visit the previous October. The infected nurse was suspected to have been contagious between Oct. 28 and Feb. 28. It has been alleged that the hospital failed to follow certain regulations that could have prevented the incident, and now many may have to undergo additional treatment.

Most patients expect the medical staff in hospitals and doctors’ offices to be in good health. However, regulations or policies are not followed sometimes, and many more than a single person may be affected. Louisiana residents who wish to discuss filing a hospital negligence suit could benefit from consulting with a local attorney. A successfully navigated claim could result in compensation to help cover additional medical costs or other damages.

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