A doctor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles caused a hospital staph outbreak after he operated on patients with an inflammation on his hand. The doctor was wearing gloves when he performed surgeries to implant replacement heart valves into patients, but the gloves developed microscopic tears in them.
The tears in the glove allowed the staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria on his hands to pass onto patients causing them to become infected. As a result, five heart patients contracted staph infections. The surgeries were performed last June and the doctor involved is still a part of the hospital’s medical staff. However, he is no longer performing surgeries, according to the hospital.
Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Sanitation Very Important in Hospitals, Physician Offices
In any patient care environment, maintaining properly sanitized conditions is a critical factor in patient safety. Germs and other types of bacteria can cause further harm to someone who is ill, so making sure everything is sterile is a must.
Physicians and other medical care professionals should always wear gloves when working with patients. In addition, any medical equipment should be sterilized and medication or other devices intended for single use should never be recycled. In cases where proper measures are not taken, serious injuries and outbreaks may occur putting patients at risk for infections with serious or even deadly effects.
Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Philadelphia and New Jersey
The Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys at Messa & Associates are experienced at handling cases involving medical malpractice cases resulting from serious infections developed as a result of treatment at a hospital or medical clinic. Our extremely skilled team of medical malpractice attorneys and medical experts is dedicated to ensuring you receive proper compensation for your personal injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered personal injuries as a result of a medical error risking patient safety or any other type of negligent care received by a medical provider, contact the medical malpractice attorneys of Messa & Associates for a free consultation. Call toll free at 1-877-MessaLaw, or submit a free online inquiry.