It is well established in the Kentucky medical community and across the United States that proper hand hygiene and sterile technique significantly reduces a patient’s risk of infection. Infection may require unexpected antibiotics, medical bills and could even result in death. Recently, a family has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against a pain clinic, alleging that it is responsible for the infection that their loved one did survive.
An 89-year-old man suffered from chronic pain in his knee and visited a pain clinic to receive relief. Reportedly, he suffered more pain and swelling in his knee following the injection than he had prior to it. His symptoms did not subside, and he sought treatment from a hospital where he was diagnosed with a serious Staphylococcus infection. Sadly, he died in another facility due to the complications of the infection. An investigation into his death revealed that five other patients who received treatment from the same clinic also had to receive treatment in a hospital for the same bacterial infection.
Not only did the investigation reveal more victims, but it revealed that health care professionals were not adhering to proper hand hygiene or sterile techniques. It is believed had they done so, the infection may have been prevented. The family reports over $130,000 in medical expenses as a result of the infection, and two other patients have indicated they also plan to file their own lawsuits.
Coping with the death of a loved one is often difficult, and learning that their death may have been prevented can be devastating. While grieving, families also may experience financial stress as a result of the unexpected necessary medical bills. Fortunately, the civil court system offers some families an opportunity to pursue recovery of monetary compensation for their financial losses. Anyone who suspects he or she may have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a medical professional could benefit from speaking to a medical malpractice attorney in Kentucky regarding applicable rights and options for filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: thestate.com, “1 dead, 5 ill after knee shots at West Columbia pain clinic, legal actions say“, John Monk, July 23, 2017