Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, more commonly referred to as MRSA, affects thousands of people each year. Each case of MRSA can range in severity. Many MRSA infections are skin infections marked by bumps that might appear red, swollen, and painful, or show other signs of infection like warmth and a discharge.
MRSA can be life-threatening when it joins up with one of the following ailments.
- blood infections.
- pneumonia.
- and, surgical site infections.
If you or a loved once has been wrongfully exposed to MRSA in New York, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills or the wrongful death of a family member in an MRSA lawsuit. In cases such as these, seeking the advice of a legal professional is highly advised.
Who’s at risk for MRSA?
MRSA is a staph infection. However, MRSA is a particularly troublesome type of staph infection because unlike other types of staph infections, MRSA is resistant to many antibiotics. As such, MRSA is extremely difficult to treat.
Healthy individuals may be at lower risk for developing an MRSA infection. Healthy people who do get staph infections usually have strong enough immune systems to fight off the bacteria, according to the New York Department of Health. Still, those who notice signs of infection should see a doctor, whether they consider themselves healthy or not.
Unfortunately, those who are most prone to developing an MRSA infection are those with weakened immune systems, or are very young or elderly. The fact that MRSA affects on those with weaker immune systems is one of the primary reasons why MRSA infections are much more common in hospitals and other medical facilities.
How is MRSA spread and who might be liable in an MRSA lawsuit?
The MRSA bacteria are easily transmitted in hospitals or other medical facilities where there may be people infected with this bacteria and others in the facility may have weakened immune systems. MRSA can spread both through direct contact, i.e. direct touch, as well as indirect contact, such as one person touching a surface that another person then touches.
Liability in an MRSA lawsuit will depend on whether a hospital or healthcare facility was negligent in its infection-prevention procedures. If healthcare professionals fail to wash their hands or use contaminated surgical equipment, then the doctors, surgeons, or the hospital itself might be liable. Failing to properly sanitize patient rooms or take other precautions to reduce the risk of infection may also leave a hospital or medical facility liable in an MRSA lawsuit.
Of course, simply contracting an infection while in a hospital may not necessarily indicate the hospital or medical professionals are liable. If the facility and the doctors and surgeons take all precautions to reduce risk of infection, but a patient contracts MRSA anyway, then the hospital might not be liable. Patients or others who contract MRSA illness in a hospital or other medical setting may speak with a lawyer about liability.
Seek Legal Help if Pursuing an MRSA Lawsuit
If infected with MRSA in a hospital or another environment where another party’s negligence is responsible for your infection, or if a loved one suffered or died from an MRSA infection because of another’s negligence, you may pursue compensation for damages. This may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. An attorney can help you better understand your rights and options to file an MRSA lawsuit.
The attorneys at Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C., are ready to take on your case today. To set up a free case consultation, call us immediately at 800-550-0000 or fill out our online contact form to get started.
