When you take your loved one to the hospital, you hope they will receive the treatment they need so they can get back on their feet and carry on with life. And while most patients fully recover, the unfortunate truth is some succumb to their illnesses or injuries. After all, death is the ultimate destiny for all.
However, if your loved one’s death was avoidable, then you may have legal grounds to hold the hospital or the healthcare provider liable. Here are two circumstances when you can sue the hospital following your loved one’s death.
The hospital hired non-qualified staff
Incompetence on the part of the healthcare provider can result in a misdiagnosis, a delayed diagnosis or a failed diagnosis. It can also result in administering the wrong treatment or improper dosages of medication. And all these have the potential of resulting in wrongful death.
If your loved one’s death was caused by a hospital employee’s mistake, holding the hospital accountable can help prevent someone else’s death.
The hospital was in over its head
If a patient’s condition is severe, they may need specialized care. If a hospital doesn’t have the facilities necessary to provide appropriate care for a patient, it is incumbent upon them to initiate a transfer to another facility.
If they fail to do so without good reason and your loved one died, the hospital may be liable.
The death of a loved one under any circumstance can leave you shaken. If you believe your loved one’s death was due to the hospital’s negligence, then you can pursue a wrongful death claim against the healthcare facility in question.