Doctors, nurses, and hospital staff have an enormous responsibility, making life-or-death decisions on a daily basis. While positive results are never guaranteed and honest mistakes do happen, when medical professionals fail to provide a certain standard of care, the consequences can be devastating. Depending on the circumstances, a personal injury attorney may be able to hold the doctor, staff, or even the hospital financially responsible for medical malpractice.

Are Hospitals Responsible for Employee Actions?

As a general rule, hospitals can be held liable for the actions of its employees, which usually includes nurses, medical testing staff, and pharmacists. For instance, if you were given the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage, you may have a personal injury case against the individual employee and the hospital. In some cases, you can also sue the doctor who was supervising the employee if they should have been able to prevent the negligent error.

Are Doctors Hospital Employees?

Most doctors work as independent contractors—not employees of the hospital—so if your injuries were the cause of a doctor’s incompetence, you may have to sue them directly. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For instance, hospitals may be named in a personal injury suit if the patient believes they directly employed the doctor whose negligence caused their injuries or if the mistake occurred in the emergency room. You may also be able to sue the hospital if they knowingly gave privileges to an incompetent or dangerous doctor with a history of injuring patients.

Medical malpractice can have devastating consequences, resulting in injuries that could impact the rest of your life. If you’ve experienced negligent treatment in a hospital in the Greater Kalispell, MT, area, the personal injury attorneys at Best & Westover Law will fight for your rights and work to collect the compensation you deserve. Visit their website for a comprehensive look at their personal injury services, or call (406) 752-8731 to schedule a consultation with an attorney today.