Common reasons medical malpractice occurs in nursing

On Behalf of | Nov 12, 2021 | Medical Malpractice

When there is a medical error in Mississippi, medical professionals other than physicians might make mistakes. That includes nurses. If a patient suffered injuries, a worsened condition or illness and it is believed to have happened because of a nurse’s mistake, it is important to know how to recognize the signs.

Understanding the components of nursing responsibilities

There are four elements of a nurse’s responsibilities. If there is a violation of one or more of them and the patient is harmed, it could constitute medical malpractice. They include duty, breach of duty, damages and causation. Duty involves the nurse adhering to the defined role when taking care of a patient. The patient must be in a safe environment with the nurse sticking to the fundamentals put in place by physicians and the facility. Breaching that duty may involve a lack of compliance and failing to follow protocol, causing harm.

The damages a patient might suffer include pain, financial costs and a radically changed life. The full aftermath of the nursing error will be calculated in this way. If a nurse, for example, gave a patient the wrong medication, this could lead to dangerous side effects and a longer recovery time. It might result in permanent damage and death. Causation is a crucial aspect of medical malpractice cases as it links the mistake to the issues the patient suffered.

Connecting all the dots may require experienced assistance

Knowing these responsibilities is just one aspect of determining if there is justification to place the blame on the nurse for medical mistakes. The entire situation must be analyzed and assessed with all the elements connected to formulate an accurate conclusion. For those who believe a nurse made a damaging medical mistake, it is useful to have experienced professional advice on how to proceed.