Receiving medical care should improve your health, not expose you to a serious infection that proper precautions could have prevented. When a hospital or healthcare provider fails to follow accepted infection-control practices, you may need surgery or a longer stay. You may also suffer permanent complications or lose a loved one. Our Orlando avoidable infection malpractice lawyer can investigate whether negligent care caused your harm and help you pursue compensation.
Medical malpractice claims involving infections are rarely simple. Providers may argue that an infection was unavoidable, even when poor sterilization or delayed treatment contributed to the outcome. At Colling Gilbert Wright, our surgical negligence attorneys have handled injury litigation for decades. Other attorneys refer cases to us because they trust our preparation and willingness to go to trial.
Common Types of Avoidable Healthcare-Associated Infections
Healthcare-associated infections develop while a patient receives treatment in a hospital or another medical setting. Not every infection results from negligence. However, many can be prevented when providers follow established safety measures and respond quickly to warning signs.
Preventable infections may develop at a surgical site or after the use of a catheter. Some patients suffer central-line bloodstream infections. Others develop ventilator-associated pneumonia or a drug-resistant infection such as MRSA. These conditions may require antibiotics or repeat procedures. In severe cases, an infection may progress to sepsis and cause disability or death.
If you developed an avoidable infection during treatment in Orlando, our attorneys can help determine whether malpractice caused the condition. This often depends on when symptoms appeared and how quickly the medical team responded.
How Does Medical Negligence Cause an Avoidable Infection?
Healthcare providers must reduce infection risks before treatment begins and continue those efforts during recovery. They must maintain sterile conditions and follow hand-hygiene protocols. They must also monitor invasive devices and respond to signs that an infection is developing.
Negligence may involve contaminated instruments or poor sterile technique. It can also result from improper catheter maintenance or delayed preventive antibiotics. Inadequate wound care may allow an infection to worsen. A provider may also commit malpractice by ignoring fever or abnormal laboratory results. Redness and swelling can require action. Drainage can also signal a worsening infection.
After a preventable infection develops, our Orlando medical malpractice attorney compares the care you received with what reasonably careful providers would have done under similar circumstances. Medical negligence claims generally require an investigation and review by a qualified medical professional before a lawsuit may proceed.
Other attorneys refer complex medical malpractice cases to us because they know we prepare thoroughly. They also trust our compassionate communication and focused attention.
Evidence That Can Show an Infection Was Preventable
Proving negligence requires more than showing that an infection occurred. Hospitals and healthcare providers often argue that infection is a recognized risk of treatment. A strong case must connect a specific failure in care to the additional harm you suffered.
Relevant evidence may include operative reports and nursing notes. Medication records may show when antibiotics began, while laboratory cultures may identify the infection. Wound assessments can document how the condition progressed. Facility policies and staffing records may reveal whether proper procedures were followed. A qualified reviewer can determine whether earlier intervention likely would have changed the outcome.
When an avoidable infection causes serious harm in Orlando, our malpractice lawyers must establish both breach and causation. This often requires reconstructing the treatment timeline. The evidence may show that delayed diagnosis allowed the infection to worsen. It may also reveal poor infection control or improper care.
We prepare every case with trial in mind. That approach strengthens our negotiations with hospitals and insurers. It also ensures that we are ready to present the evidence in court. Our advocacy has earned the trust of clients and other professionals.
Contact Our Orlando Malpractice Attorneys About a Preventable Infection
A preventable infection can leave you with significant medical expenses and lost income. It may also cause lasting pain or disability. In the most serious cases, it may lead to the death of someone close to you. If you need an Orlando avoidable infection malpractice lawyer, our team is here to review the care you received. We can explain your legal options and determine whether a claim is appropriate.
At The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers, we handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. You owe no attorney fees or costs unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.