Can I Sue a Nurse for Medical Malpractice?

We often refer to doctors when talking about a medical visit or treatment for a specific health condition. But you are probably aware that most of your interaction is with other medical staff, like nurses. This is true whether you are at a private clinic, major hospital, or surgical center. A nurse’s duties may be different than a doctor’s, but they still have a legal obligation to provide a professional standard of care. That includes exhibiting a certain level of skill, knowledge, and compassion in their interactions with patients.

Thankfully, most nurses we meet throughout our lives are well-qualified and caring professionals. But there are cases of nurses who are careless, incompetent, or abusive. Most cases involve negligence and not intentional misconduct, usually as a result of understaffing, overworking, and lack of supervision / support.

The nurse malpractice attorneys of Kenmore have been advocating for injury victims for many years, and we know how challenging it is to go after negligent medical professionals. This is one of the most complex areas of personal injury law, and many victims find themselves confused and overwhelmed by the intricacies of the legal system.

Our law firm is here 24/7 if you are wondering, “Can a nurse be sued for medical malpractice in California?” A member of our legal team can meet with you for a free consultation and answer any questions you have about your rights and legal options. Negligence by a nurse should never be tolerated, and we are here to help you get justice. Use our contact form or call our office anytime for more information on suing a nurse for malpractice.

Leading Causes of Negligence by Nurses

The truth is, anyone in any profession can make mistakes and falter in their judgement, no matter the level of education and experience. In fact, the majority of malpractice lawsuits we come across involve medical staff – including nurses – with over 15 years of experience.

So, you cannot automatically sue for errors by a nurse unless it meets the standard for medical malpractice under California law. What does this mean? In the most simplistic terms, there was bodily harm to a patient because a nurse failed to do their job with the care and competence expected of other nurses in the same field and level of experience.

Nursing errors in hospitals and other medical facilities involve numerous circumstances, which include:

• Failures during the patient assessment procedure
• Providing a level of care that is substandard per medical board / hospital regulations
• Leaving out relevant medical information on a patient’s medical file
• Failing to understand the need for immediate medical intervention
• Improper or lack of monitoring for vital signs during a surgery
• Incorrect recording or patient information, like vital signs and test results
• Medication errors – mistakes in giving drugs, whether it’s the wrong drug, dosage, or method of delivery

Who Is Liable for Negligence by a Nurse?

It’s impossible to think of a medical facility that doesn’t have nurses, whether you are at the emergency room or a private clinic for an out-patient procedure. There are different types of nurses – registered nurses, nurse practitioners, vocational nurses, etc. – and all these professionals are crucial to ensuring the highest level of patient care. Thus, patients are extremely vulnerable to injuries or death if there is any failure by a member of the nursing staff.

When it comes to people working at a hospital, liability may not be limited to one specific individual. This is particularly true in hospitals with many nurses that play a role in caring for the patient. So, it may be the case that a patient ends up with serious complications because of careless or reckless actions by multiple nurses.

We also have to think about the hospital or facility as a whole, which includes a team of administrators with or without a medical degree. There are specific departments that are responsible for screening and hiring the nurses, and supervisors that train and monitor their performance. Hospitals must also hire enough nurses based on patient demand and ensure they have specific licensing and certifications. A medical facility must also have clear and thorough protocols for communication between staff members and departments to ensure that patient safety and information are not compromised.

With that in mind, the nurse’s employer may be liable as well in a lawsuit for medical malpractice. At the end of the day, a hospital’s involvement and the degree to which it harmed the patient are complicated matters. By consulting our team of nurse malpractice attorneys, you can have your case thoroughly investigated in order to determine the exact cause of your injuries. Then, we can go after the responsible parties and bring you the medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages you deserve as a victim of medical malpractice. Along with justice for yourself, you are protecting other patients from going through a similar experience and suffering needlessly through no fault of their own.

Contact a Medical Malpractice by a Nurse Lawsuit Attorney

Do you believe that negligence by a nurse caused harm to you or a member of your family? If so, please get in touch with our team of Los Angeles medical malpractice attorneys. We are ready to hear your story and verify your eligibility for a nurse malpractice injury or wrongful death claim. If you are interested in pursuing a legal case, you can count on us for skilled and aggressive representation.

We have a Zero Fee Guarantee, so your finances are never at risk. We do not charge you any fees upfront, and instead, we wait till the end of your case to receive a portion of the recovered funds. What happens if we fail to win your case? If you don’t receive compensation from a medical malpractice lawsuit, you pay $0, and we make absolutely nothing.

If you are ready to discuss your experience as a victim of nursing malpractice, please take a moment to schedule a free case evaluation.