Common Medical Errors by Nurses -- When Can You Sue?

In some ways, quality nursing care can be just as important to your health as the medical treatment you receive from a doctor. By the same token, however, injuries sustained from substandard nursing care can be just as serious as those from physician mistakes.

Here are some of the most common medical errors committed by nurses and their legal liability if it happens to you.

While most medical malpractice lawsuits will target doctors and hospitals (i.e., those with deep pockets), nurses might be just as, if not more, responsible for injuries resulting from poor medical care.

2. Nursing Home Slip and Fall: Can You Sue for Negligence?

Beyond the medical care they provide patients, nurses are often also responsible for maintaining clean, healthy, and safe environments in which patients can receive quality care. And if they fail to do so, they (or the institution for which they work) may be liable.

3. When to Sue a Nursing Home for Bedsores

Many elderly people reside in nursing homes in order to receive continuous care they could otherwise not get if they were still at home. That's why injuries resulting from a lack of attention, like bed sores, are so tragic.

4. Georgia Hospital Settles Rape Lawsuit Involving Nurse's Aide

In some cases, a nurse's injury liability may not hinge on an accident or a mistake, but an illegal action taken by the nurse. So-called "intentional torts" may sever liability for the nurse's employer, while leaving the bad actor on the hook, both criminally and civilly.

5. Can Hospitals Be Sued for Insensitivity to Transgender Patients?

Nurses can get their employers in hot water, however, for not treating patients, particularly transgender patients, with due care and respect. This is especially true for institutions that hold themselves out as specialists in gender management.

If you've been injured by a nurse's negligence or intentional act, contact an experienced personal injury attorney near you.

Related Resources:

• Find Personal Injury Lawyers in Your Area (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
• 3 Common Types of Hospital Infections and When to Sue (FindLaw's Injured)
• 5 Ways Surgery Errors Can Lead to Lawsuits (FindLaw's Injured)
• Can I Sue for Hospital Negligence? (FindLaw's Injured)