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Connecticut Personal Injury Attorneys Tremont Sheldon PC

Helping Victims of Nursing Errors

Whether you are at a clinic for a checkup or at the hospital for a lengthy stay after a medical procedure, you are highly likely to spend more time with the nursing staff than with your doctor. Having attentive nursing care can make all the difference during an otherwise difficult time. But when nurses are negligent, it can result in painful complications, serious injuries and, in extreme cases, death.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by nursing errors or negligence, you can rely on the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Tremont Sheldon P.C.. Our firm has represented injury victims in Connecticut since 1960, combining tremendous resources and expertise with service tailored to the unique needs of our clients.

Causes of Nursing Errors

In almost all cases, nursing errors or negligence are not the result of nurses who are trying to harm patients. We understand that, but we also believe that people and institutions need to be held accountable when they hurt people. Inadequate staffing is often a factor in nursing errors, as nurses hurry between patients rather than taking the necessary time to monitor them and communicate with doctors.

Nurses, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants in particular are being asked to do more than ever before. If they are not properly trained, it can place patients at risk for injuries. For example, patients can be sent home after being seen and told that there is nothing wrong, only to suffer needlessly from a serious problem that should have been diagnosed and properly treated.

We pursue malpractice claims against nurses, hospitals and others that involve negligence such as prescription errors (overprescribing and underprescribing medications), mistakes while assisting with surgery, failure to monitor and more.

Our attorneys work closely with medical providers who provide us with the expert testimony necessary to prove that safety standards and rules were broken, and that those violations were responsible for doing harm to our clients. This approach has been highly successful, resulting in the recovery of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Here to Help the Victims of Nursing Errors in Connecticut

To learn more about how we can help you maximize your compensation after a nursing error, contact our Bridgeport, Connecticut, lawyers for a free consultation.

Medical Malpractice Frequently Asked Questions

How can I be assured of good medical care while in the hospital?

When you are in a hospital, demand specific information:

You and a trusted family member should always know the diagnosis and potential procedure.
Question each procedure before it is started.
Before taking medication, ask what it is for and who prescribed it.
Insist that you know the doctor who is in charge of your case overall.
Before going into the operating room, find out who they think you are, as well as what operation they expect to perform and where upon your body.
You and your family members should not be afraid to complain if you feel the patient is having a problem that is being ignored.
Repeat over and over again any allergies or reactions you may have.
If your instincts say something is wrong, demand to see the doctor in charge.
Never hesitate to ask for and obtain a second opinion.

How long does it take to determine whether I have a medical negligence case?

The investigation to determine whether a medical malpractice case exists can take several months and sometimes over a year. This is why it is very important that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible if you feel that you or a family member has been harmed by medical treatment. Before we can decide whether you have a case, we must obtain copies of all your relevant medical records and reports, including at times x-ray and MRI scans. Typically, these records are provided to an out-of-state medical provider in order to determine whether medical rules and standards have been broken. Sometimes we have to consult with doctors in several different medical specialties before we can make a decision on whether we can bring a case for you.

How much time do I have to bring a case against a medical provider, hospital or nursing home for harm caused to me or a family member?

Under the law, you generally have two years from the date of malpractice or from when you knew or should have known of the malpractice in which to bring a claim in a court of proper jurisdiction. The maximum amount of time for bringing a claim under any circumstances is three years from the date of malpractice. In order to determine the specific limitation that may apply in your case, you should consult with a lawyer as soon as possible. You can also request a 90-day automatic extension of time in which to file suit, which must be filed before the applicable limitation has expired.

How to best survive a Connecticut hospital stay?

To reduce problems during a Connecticut hospital stay, demand specific information. Some guidelines are mentioned below:
• You and a trusted family member should always know the diagnosis and potential procedures.
• Question each procedure that someone is to perform before it is started.
• Before taking medication, ask what it is for and who prescribed it.
• Insist that you know the doctor who is in charge of your case overall.
• Before going into the operating room, find out who they think you are, as well as what operation they expect to perform and where upon your body.
• You and your family members should not be afraid to complain if you feel the patient is having a problem that is being ignored.
• Repeat over and over again any allergies or reactions you may have.
• If your instincts say something is wrong, demand to see the doctor in charge.
• Never hesitate to ask for and obtain a second opinion.

If a patient tragically dies as a result of careless medical care and treatment, can a case still be brought?

Yes. In the tragic situation where careless medical care and treatment result in a patient’s death, a lawsuit can be brought by the administrator of the estate of the person who died, whether or not the person had a will.

What is required under the law in order to bring a case against a medical provider, hospital or nursing home for harm caused to me or a family member?

Under the law, in order to file a medical negligence claim against a medical provider, hospital or nursing home, we must obtain the written and signed opinion of a similar health care provider stating that there have been violations of the medical rules or standards in the care and treatment provided to a patient and the statement must also give a detailed basis for the opinions. The statement must be filed with the lawsuit. In addition, the attorney must also attach a certificate of probable cause that there is a good faith belief that grounds exist for a lawsuit.