Medical malpractice can occur at any facility that provides patient care, including nursing homes, veterans’ hospitals, and other residential care facilities. If you experience medical negligence at the hands of a healthcare provider in a nursing or veteran’s home, you may be eligible for legal action against the employee and the facility. However, claims against the government follow different rules from a claim against a private company.
Examples of Medical Malpractice in Nursing and Veteran Facilities
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional deviates from the medical standard of care and injures a patient. This type of negligence can occur at any healthcare facility, including veteran hospitals and nursing homes. In many cases, medical malpractice can involve acts of severe abuse and neglect.
The following are common examples of medical malpractice in these facilities.
Prescribing too much or too little of a medication
Prescribing the wrong medications
The misuse and abuse of medical restraints
Forgetting to administer a patient’s or resident’s medication
Neglecting a patient by failing to provide food, water, medication, or regular hygiene
Ignoring the medical concerns of a patient or resident
Failing to schedule a doctor or specialist to care for the resident or patient
Filing a Claim Against a Nursing Home or Veteran Care Facility
If you or a loved one have experienced medical malpractice at a nursing home or veteran’s facility, you have the right to pursue a claim against the at-fault professional and his or her employer. In cases involving private nursing homes, you could file a lawsuit against the facility in Georgia civil court.
For cases involving Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) facilities, you will need to file a claim against the federal government. These cases fall under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and must follow the rules and requirements set by that law. For example, FTCA claims typically have a shorter statute of limitations than medical malpractice lawsuits.
Damages Available in Georgia Medical Malpractice Cases
Medical malpractice in nursing and veteran homes and hospitals can result in severe and debilitating injuries, as well as worsening illnesses. If you are injured by a negligent healthcare professional, you can experience severe physical pain, psychological suffering, and financial hardship. With the help of an Augusta personal injury attorney, you can recover compensation for these damages.
In Georgia, you can recover two categories of damages in a medical malpractice claim: economic and non-economic. Economic damages involve financial losses, while non-economic damages refer to the pain and suffering that you endured.
Common types of damages available in these cases include the following.
Past and future medical expenses
Lost wages and loss of future earnings
Disability accommodations, such as mobility equipment
Specialty treatments, such as physical therapy
Chronic pain
Permanent disability
Emotional distress
Fear and anxiety
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Loss of quality of life
Schedule a Consultation with a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Pursuing a lawsuit against a nursing home or veteran hospital can be a complex process. If you plan on filing a Georgia medical malpractice claim, you need an attorney on your side who can represent your claim and help you secure the compensation that you deserve.
An Augusta medical malpractice lawyer has the skills, experience, and knowledge that you need to prove your right to compensation and secure the settlement that you deserve. As soon as possible following your injury, contact an attorney to discuss your legal options.
