Unsanitary Hospital Conditions

If a medical procedure becomes necessary, hospital patients should trust that they will be kept healthy. No one likes to think they are staying in an unsanitary hospital that could give them an infection or result in other health complications. If you are the victim of any medical negligence, including unsanitary conditions that may have led to a hospital infection, you should contact a Chicago medical malpractice attorney. Unsanitary hospital conditions are not the patient’s normal concern. Patients trust that they will be in the most sterile, clean environment possible. Unfortunately this is not always true. The chances of ending up in an unsanitary hospital are relatively high. It is a growing problem in the United States and one of the leading causes of hospital infection. If you have developed an infection because of an unsanitary hospital in the Chicago area, you should immediately consult a Chicago medical malpractice attorney.

Causes of an Unsanitary Hospital

While a hospital may appear to be superficially clean and sterile, many of them do not meet basic cleanliness standards. One study done on a number of intensive care units revealed that about half of them contained harmful viruses and bacteria. Possible causes of an unsanitary hospital include:

• improperly sterilized medical equipment;
• improperly collected or stored hazardous materials;
• sick or contagious medical staff;
• failure to properly wash hands;
• insufficiently changed or washed linens (bed sheets, hospital drapes, garments, etc);
• unclean medical staff clothing; and
• unsterile or infected work surfaces. 

A Chicago medical malpractice attorney can advise you of your rights and legal options to seek compensation if you have contracted a hospital infection from unsanitary conditions. In most cases, a Chicago medical malpractice claim is fought against a hospital’s legal counsel or insurance company. This is why it helps to have a Chicago medical malpractice attorney’s experience and knowledge, instead of fighting your claim alone.

Consequences of an Unsanitary Hospital

The consequences of an unsanitary hospital can be deadly. This is especially true for patients who have weakened immune systems. While a patient may be receiving treatment for one condition, they may have to endure additional treatment for developing a hospital infection or another serious type of illness because of an unsanitary hospital. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are expected to maintain a sterile and clean environment, living up to state and federal health codes. When there is a failure to do so, it can lead to devastating consequences, and all involved parties can and should be held liable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that every year in the United States, approximately 100,000 patients die after acquiring an infection in some type of healthcare facility. Additionally, The Journal of the American Medical Association published data that twice as many patients in the United States are killed from acquiring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) than previously thought. These findings are based on lab tests, not on information from hospitals. The sad reality is that hospitals are not disclosing correct numbers on how many patients die as a result of an infection acquired from an unsanitary hospital. Research has shown that the main causes of a hospital infection are:

• contaminated clothing;
• unsterile equipment; and
• a lack of hand washing.  

Those are all preventable types of medical negligence.

What to do if You Have Developed a Hospital Infection

Clearly, the consequences of staying in an unsanitary hospital are serious. If you have developed a hospital infection or any other serious illness or injury because of a stay in an unsanitary hospital in the Chicago area, you should contact a Chicago medical malpractice attorney. A medical malpractice attorney can look at the facts surrounding your case and determine if medical negligence led to your injuries or illness. If so, your Chicago medical malpractice attorney can help you build and support a claim for damages related to your injuries, financial costs, and emotional suffering. 

Contacting a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney

At the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys will examine all aspects of your claim, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation for you or your loved one for any injuries or loss of life because of medical malpractice. Contact us today for a no-cost case evaluation – 312-263-1080.