Woman breaks hip in alleged medical malpractice

Medical professionals are supposed to do what they are capable of in order to help patients avoid injuries while under a hospital’s care. Failure to do so may result in a medical malpractice lawsuit in Massachusetts or in any other state. It turns out one hospital that is now facing a lawsuit may have failed to take necessary precautions to help avoid injury to a particular patient.

The recent incident involved a patient who had been admitted to the hospital in order to undergo a psychological evaluation in mid-July 2009. She had been previously diagnosed with dementia and was admitted to the hospital as a result of confusion, agitation and increased hallucinations. However, during her hospitalization the patient claims the hospital was negligent in providing necessary safety precautions to prevent injury.

The woman had been considered to have an increased risk of falling, according to the woman’s lawsuit filed with the court against the hospital. Apparently, the woman ended up falling and breaking her hip while under the care of the hospital. This required her to undergo surgery to treat the serious injury. The woman is alleging she experienced physical and emotional pain and suffering, permanent scarring and damage, mental anguish, loss of quality of life as well as a variety of other damages listed in the legal complaint.

The plaintiff is asking the court to award an unspecified amount of damages. However, just like any other medical malpractice case in Massachusetts or elsewhere, whether damages are awarded and the amount awarded will depend upon the evidence adduced and the legal arguments presented by both sides. To prevail, the plaintiff will need to establish that the hospital deviated from an accepted standard of care in a manner that caused or contributed to the injuries claimed.

Source: louisianarecord.com, “East Jefferson General Hospital sued for medical malpractice after 90-year-old patient allegedly breaks hip“, Kyle Barnett, Dec. 22, 2014