Hospitals all across the nation are responsible for the care they provide to their patients. People go to doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals with the hopes that they’ll diagnose a problem and provide a solution.
Never do we consider that the people who are supposed to help our health will put us at risk. Unfortunately, this is something that happens more often than people would consider.
One of the biggest issues that people encounter is the lack of hygiene and proper sterilization techniques in hospitals. This is a problem that can lead to serious issues involving contamination and infection.
This isn’t something that is new and there are plenty of instances where patients are at risk of serious harm due to the lack of proper safety procedures. Unfortunately, it’s something innocent patients have had to deal with for a long term.
Here are some of the potential issues that can arise when a hospital is not taking the necessary precautions to ensure the hospital is sterile and individuals are safe from serious illnesses.
The Common Problems That Can Occur
One of the many issues that individuals encounter is bacteria spread by various machines that are often used in surgical procedures. For instance, there was a blood-cooling machine used during heart surgery that was flawed by design.
As a result, it spread a deadly strain of bacteria from factory contamination, but there was no known way of decontaminating the problem. These contaminated machines brought about 110 cases and half the infected individuals passing away as a result.
Often labeled superbugs, these types of contaminations are extremely dangerous and should not be taken lightly by anyone who may have sustained an infection or come into contact with someone who has.
How Often Are People Impacted?
Unfortunately, situations involving infections at medical facilities are more common than you may think. In fact, there are roughly 648,000 people in the United States each year who develop a serious infection during a hospital stay.
Even worse, about 75,000 of the people infected die as a result of these infections. Typically, most of the cases can be contributed to incorrect use of antibiotics, which is a medication used to fight against infection in the body. Two of the most common types of infections are MRSA and C. diff.
These types of bacteria can live on certain equipment for days at a time. Without proper sterilization, the bacteria can be spread from person to person on surgical equipment, certain medical instruments, and through the air.
Most Common Healthcare-Associated Infections
It’s important to understand which types of infections are possible and how it can cause serious problems for the patient. These are some of the most commonly spread infections due to healthcare hygiene issues.
- Hepatitis A, B, and C – Hepatitis is a serious illness that can cause the carrier’s body to shut down due to infection in various organs of the body as well as blood-borne. Hepatitis A and B both have vaccines, but Hepatitis C does not.
- Influenza – This virus is very common, often resulting in serious illnesses. In some cases, individuals may develop the flu, but in other cases, influenza can be fatal.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus – More commonly referred to as HIV, this virus damages the cells in the body that are used to fight off diseases. It is commonly transferred through bodily fluids and is a threat when contaminants are left on surgical equipment.
Current Issues Involving Contamination
One hospital in Denver, Colorado—Porter Adventist Hospital—is under scrutiny for their lack of safety procedures and sterilization processes. This has led to a number of patients being subject to infection as a result of contamination of various surgical equipment.
There have been countless individuals from July of 2016 to April of 2018 warned regarding the potential risks if they had orthopedic or spine surgery in Porter Adventist Hospital. One of the patients woke up after four hours under anesthesia only to find out the surgery wasn’t performed due to discovery of a foreign substance on the instruments.
This has led to a number of potential problems for patients and the risk of Hepatitis and HIV / AIDS is a real threat to anyone who may be involved in this situation. At the end of the day, victims may be able to seek compensation for the damages they have sustained.
What We’re Doing to Help
At Denver Trial Lawyers ®, we understand the various situations patients must endure when exposed to the risk of serious illnesses and infections. There are a number of health issues that can arise, some long-term and some life-threatening. As a result, victims of hospital contamination need help.
They are left dealing with the aftermath of the negligence of medical professionals. They deserve the right to hold the responsible party accountable for the damages caused. When victims are stuck with serious illnesses caused by another person.
As such, our Denver medical malpractice attorneys are currently accepting claims against Porter Adventist Hospital to help victims seek justice. We know there are a number of situations in which we can help, so you can feel confident that when you select our firm, you’re getting the representation you deserve.
No hospital should go unpunished when it puts its patients at risk and this situation is no different. If you believe you were infected at Porter Adventist Hospital, we encourage you to get tested to determine the likelihood of infection. Then, our firm can speak with you about your legal rights and options moving forward.
Denver Trial Lawyers ® is ready to help. Call us today at (303) 647-9990 to discuss your potential case with experienced and dedicated attorneys ready to fight for your rights.
