Tampa Hospital Negligence Attorney
Patients visit Tampa General Hospital, Memorial Hospital, and other leading medical facilities throughout the city every day to receive treatment for illnesses and injuries. Unfortunately, patients do not always receive the highest quality of care when they visit these facilities. When doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals act negligently, patients may suffer even greater harm. Hospitals and their staff can be held accountable when they fail to meet the accepted standard of care, but medical malpractice claims are extremely complex. A Tampa hospital negligence attorney can give you the best chance of obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Common Types Of Hospital Negligence In Tampa
The hospitals in Tampa are advanced facilities equipped with some of the best technology available. Still, preventable errors happen every year. Doctors, nurses, and hospital staff often work long hours, which increases the risk of mistakes. However, fatigue, distraction, or staffing shortages are never valid excuses for negligence. Even one avoidable mistake can cause catastrophic injury or even death. Some of the most common forms of hospital negligence include:
- Failure to treat an illness or infection
- Objects left behind during surgery
- Improper use of a medical device
- Wrong-site surgery
- Failure to refer a patient to a specialist
- Hospital-acquired infection
- Failure to order the correct diagnostic tests
- Failure to stabilize a patient before discharge
- Failure to respond appropriately in an emergency
- Medication errors or overdoses
- Misinterpretation of X-rays, scans, or lab results
- Treating the wrong patient
These are only examples of the types of negligence that can occur. Any time a patient suffers harm due to the carelessness of medical professionals, it is important to investigate the case and determine liability.
Popular Hospitals In Tampa
Tampa is home to several respected hospitals and healthcare systems. Patients often seek care at these facilities, but negligence can occur anywhere, regardless of the reputation of the hospital. Some of the most well-known hospitals in the Tampa area include:
- Tampa General Hospital
- Memorial Hospital of Tampa
- St. Joseph’s Hospital
- AdventHealth Tampa
- HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital
- HCA Florida Brandon Hospital
- Moffitt Cancer Center
- HCA Florida Trinity Hospital
- AdventHealth Carrollwood
- HCA Florida Largo Hospital
Patients place their trust in these facilities during critical times. When that trust is broken due to negligent care, victims have the right to pursue justice.
Bed Sores And Hospital Negligence
One of the most common and preventable injuries patients suffer in hospitals is bed sores, also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. Bed sores develop when a patient is left in one position for too long without being moved or assisted. They typically occur on areas of the body where bones are close to the skin, such as the heels, hips, tailbone, or elbows.
Bed sores are almost always preventable with proper care. Hospitals and nursing staff have a duty to regularly reposition patients who are bedridden, use pressure-relieving devices such as specialized mattresses, and monitor patients for early signs of skin breakdown. When staff fail to meet these basic standards, painful and dangerous sores can develop. Left untreated, bed sores can quickly worsen, leading to severe infections, sepsis, and even death.
The development of bed sores in a hospital setting is often a strong indicator of neglect. If you or your loved one suffered bed sores while under hospital care, you may have a valid claim for medical malpractice. An experienced Tampa hospital negligence attorney can investigate the circumstances, review medical records, and hold the facility accountable for the harm caused.
Delayed Diagnosis And Misdiagnosis In Hospitals
One of the leading causes of patient harm in hospitals is a delayed diagnosis or an outright misdiagnosis. When hospital staff fail to properly review a patient’s symptoms, order the right tests, or communicate results to the treating physician, the patient may not receive treatment until it is too late. Misdiagnosis can allow a condition to progress, cause complications, or even lead to wrongful death. In Tampa hospitals, negligence in diagnosing conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, infections, and cancer is especially dangerous. Patients and families harmed by these mistakes may be entitled to financial recovery.
Hospital Infections And Negligent Sanitation
Hospital-acquired infections are a serious problem across the country, including in Tampa. Infections such as MRSA, staph, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections often spread when hospitals fail to follow strict sanitation protocols. Dirty medical instruments, unwashed hands, or contaminated surfaces can expose patients to deadly bacteria. Preventing infection is a basic duty of every hospital, and failure to maintain sterile environments can be grounds for a hospital negligence claim.
Emergency Room Negligence
Emergency rooms in Tampa hospitals are often crowded and fast-paced. Doctors and nurses may overlook key symptoms, delay care, or discharge patients without proper treatment. Because emergency departments are often the first point of contact for patients experiencing serious conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, or traumatic injuries, negligence in these settings can be fatal. Hospitals may be held liable if ER staff fail to triage patients correctly, misdiagnose emergencies, or delay life-saving care.
Wrongful Death From Hospital Negligence
In the most tragic cases, hospital negligence leads to the death of a patient. Families in Tampa who lose loved ones due to medical errors may pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. These claims can provide compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, medical bills, and the emotional loss of a family member. While no amount of money can replace a loved one, wrongful death claims help hold negligent hospitals accountable and bring closure to grieving families.
Who Is Liable For Hospital Negligence
Determining liability in a hospital negligence case can be complicated. In many situations, when a nurse, paramedic, or medical technician makes a mistake, the hospital itself may be held responsible. These staff members are typically employees of the hospital, meaning the facility can be liable for negligent hiring, lack of training, or poor supervision.
In some cases, liability may extend to a supervising doctor. If a nurse or technician acts under a physician’s direct orders, and a mistake occurs, both the hospital and the physician may share responsibility.
When doctors make mistakes, the issue of liability becomes even more complex. Many doctors are considered independent contractors rather than hospital employees. Patients are often asked to sign admission paperwork that acknowledges this status, which can limit the hospital’s liability. However, there are exceptions, especially in emergency situations where consent forms are not provided or when patients reasonably believe the doctor is acting as a hospital employee.
Damages Available In Hospital Negligence Cases
Victims of hospital negligence in Tampa may be entitled to significant compensation. A successful medical malpractice claim can recover damages for:
- Medical expenses for corrective treatment
- Future healthcare and rehabilitation costs
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship in wrongful death cases
Every case is different, but with an experienced Tampa hospital negligence lawyer, patients and families can pursue full compensation for the harm suffered.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hospital Negligence In Tampa
What Qualifies As Hospital Negligence In Tampa?
Hospital negligence occurs when a hospital or its staff fail to provide care that meets the accepted medical standard, resulting in harm to the patient. This can include surgical mistakes, medication errors, misdiagnosis, bed sores, infections, or failure to act quickly in an emergency.
How Do I Prove Hospital Negligence?
To prove negligence, you must show that the hospital or staff owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty, and that the breach directly caused your injuries. Medical records, expert testimony, and hospital policies are often critical pieces of evidence in these cases.
How Long Do I Have To File A Hospital Negligence Claim In Florida?
Florida law generally gives victims two years from the date of the malpractice, or two years from when the malpractice should have reasonably been discovered, to file a medical malpractice claim. There are exceptions, so it is best to consult an attorney as soon as possible.
Can I Sue The Hospital Directly Or Just The Doctor?
In many cases, the hospital can be held liable for the negligence of its employees, such as nurses, technicians, or paramedics. Liability for doctors depends on whether they are employees or independent contractors, though exceptions apply in certain emergency or urgent care situations.
What Compensation Can I Recover In A Hospital Negligence Case?
Compensation can include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of companionship. An attorney can evaluate your case and determine the damages available.
Call Our Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
If you or your loved one has been harmed by hospital negligence, Kohn Law is ready to help. Attorney Kohn understands the devastating impact of medical errors and is committed to holding negligent parties accountable. Our firm has the knowledge, resources, and dedication to pursue justice on your behalf.
Call us today at (813) 428-8504 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.
