Did Medical Malpractice Cause the “Superbug?”

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Shapiro Law Group

An outbreak of a new type of bacteria has led to seven infections and two deaths possibly caused by the infections. The outbreak occurred between October 2014 and January of 2015 at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Doctors suspect that contaminated instruments used in patients with pancreatic and bioduct issues may have contributed to the outbreak.

Up to 179 patients who underwent endoscopic procedures are at risk of contracting the bug.

Dr. Thomas Hopkins, an internal medicine specialist at the hospital, says that the bug has evolved to defeat current antibiotics. He said that a break in protocol during sterilization may have led to the bug’s creation and spreading. He worries that the outbreak could be the start of a potentially deadly epidemic, and that we can expect to see more reports about superbug outbreaks.

A hospital spokesperson said that the hospital sterilizes all equipment before use on patients. A report from KCRA News says that doctors are not sure how to treat this new health threat, and referred to the treatment process “a guessing game.”

I Got Sick at a Hospital – What Can I Do?

Going to a hospital to get better and leaving with a new disease or injury is an unfortunately common problem. Mistakes at hospitals are a leading cause of death in the United States, and victims of these mistakes might need to deal with permanent injuries, disabilities and death. Many medical centers are understaffed and overworked, creating many opportunities for deadly mistakes.

If a victim can prove that a medical professional deviated from the standard of care and caused serious harm as a result, he or she could have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against those at fault.

Shapiro Law Group –Medical Malpractice Attorneys Serving the Tampa Area

Source: http://www.kcra.com/news/100-possibly-exposed-to-superbug-bacteria-in-california/31347220

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