South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Florida patients rely on safe, accurate, and prompt laboratory results when they obtain treatment or preventative care for a medical condition. When a laboratory error occurs during the administration or interpretation of lab results, Florida patients may suffer long-lasting and severe injuries. The hospitals and laboratories responsible for these errors may face liability for the injuries through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Florida patients who suffer harm because of a laboratory error may bring various types of claims against multiple parties. Responsible parties may include the person who obtained the lab sample or conducted the test, the medical professional who read and communicated the results, and any manufacturers that designed faulty testing equipment.
Medical technicians, phlebotomists, radiologists, nurses, physicians, and other professionals involved in the chain of laboratory testing may be liable for laboratory errors. Hospitals and medical facilities are responsible for ensuring that their personnel have adequate training in the job that they are hired to do. This includes making sure that staff know how to safely obtain results, run samples, and interpret the results. Injuries can arise when a medical professional unsafely takes a blood sample, waits too long to run a sample, tests for incorrect conditions, or inaccurately reports the findings.
Moreover, in some cases, injuries may arise when samples are run on faulty equipment. In these instances, the manufacturer of the equipment and the facility responsible for ensuring that the machine is maintained may both be held liable. Defective laboratory equipment can result in false results or contaminated products. For example, according to a recent news report, a hospital that provided premature babies with contaminated donor milk is facing backlash after several babies died. After three premature babies died, and others began showing signs of life-threatening illnesses, the hospital discovered that the affected babies received contaminated donor milk. Apparently, the laboratory equipment used to measure the milk contained bacteria that can be deadly to immunocompromised individuals. The hospital is investigating how the bacteria developed and is diverting the care of certain susceptible patients. At least one family filed a lawsuit against the hospital, alleging that they negligently provided their child with contaminated donor milk.
Have You Suffered Injuries Because of Faulty Laboratory Testing?
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries because of a laboratory error, you should contact the experienced Florida medical malpractice attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon. Our attorneys understand how to provide the compassion and advocacy that victims of medical malpractice deserve. Medical malpractice cases in Florida can be challenging because laboratories and medical institutions will go to great lengths to protect their reputation and avoid liability. We have helped numerous Florida victims get the compensation that they deserve for injuries that they suffered because of the negligence of medical professionals. Compensation may include economic and non-economic damages, including payments for medical bills and pain and suffering. To learn more about how our team of attorneys can help you pursue a claim for compensation, contact our office at 877-499-4878 to schedule a free initial consultation.