Who Can Be Sued for Medical Malpractice?

When people think of medical malpractice, they often think of physicians and surgeons. The truth is, that just about anyone in the medical field can be sued for malpractice. Nurses, health care facilities, anesthesiologists and other people and entities that provide health care services can be held liable.

Hospitals

While the entire hospital is not responsible for your injury or misdiagnosis, they do have vicarious liability. That is, they are responsible for the actions of their employees. They can be held responsible for the negligence of anyone that works in the hospital.

Pharmaceutical Companies

If a drug causes injury, a pharmaceutical company may be held liable. This is only the case when the drug manufacturer did not warn physicians of any potential dangers or side effects. It can be difficult to sue a pharmaceutical company if they have provided adequate information to physicians, but it can be done in some cases.

Anesthesiologists

Imagine if the person responsible for keeping you asleep but alive during surgery made a mistake. Whether it was a miscalculation of drugs or some other type of negligence, these professionals are responsible for part of your care. As such, if they make a mistake or fail to perform their duties in such a way that you are injured, they can be found guilty of medical malpractice.

Nurses

Nurses are primarily responsible for patients. These medical providers are who you will have the most contact with whether you are in a hospital or a doctor’s office. A nurse has the ability to harm you just as severely as a physician does. Nurses are also sworn to a code of conduct. If they perform their duties in a negligent manner and you are injured, misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, they can easily be held liable.

Never assume that you do not have a case when your injury is not directly caused by a physician. Almost anyone involved in your medical care can be sued for malpractice. When you trust people with your health, you expect them to perform their duties correctly.

If you believe that you have a medical malpractice claim, contact our experienced team of professional attorneys today. We will review the details of your case at no cost to you. We are here to help you start putting the pieces of your life back together. Call now.