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When people are hospitalized, they and their loved ones expect for them to get better. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen, and sometimes, their health declines because they contract diseases that are primarily found in hospitals.
One of the most dreaded hospital-related illnesses is an intestinal illness caused by a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile, or C. diff. This infection can happen to anyone who is hospitalized, but is more common in certain patients, including patients over age 65 and patients who take antibiotics.
Because C. diff can cause such severe symptoms and complications, many people who develop it require prolonged hospitalization and time away from work.
This leads many patients and their families to wonder if contracting C. diff in the hospital makes them eligible for a medical malpractice lawsuit. To learn the answer to this question, it’s important to understand more about what C. diff is and how patients contract it.
C. diff is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Illness from C. diff typically occurs after the use of antibiotic medications and is more common in older adults and in healthcare environments, where germs are more prevalent and patients may have weakened immune systems. People who previously contracted C. diff are also more likely to contract it again in the future.
C. diff can lead to many serious and potentially life-threatening complications, especially in patients who are already weakened due to age, illness, or severe injury.
These complications include:
It's essential for patients and their families, especially those in high-risk groups, to be aware of the symptoms of C. diff and seek medical attention if they suspect an infection. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in managing C. diff infections effectively.
In Ohio, not all hospital-related infections automatically qualify as medical malpractice. For a C. diff infection to be considered malpractice, certain legal elements must be proven:
If you suspect a hospital-related C. diff infection, either in yourself or a family member, it's crucial to take immediate and appropriate steps, including:
At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, we are dedicated to guiding our clients through the extreme difficulty and stress of this devastating disease when it’s caused by a hospital or healthcare worker’s negligence.
If you suspect that your or a loved one’s hospital-related C. diff infection is the result of medical malpractice, we want to hear from you. Contact us today for a free case review and to speak with our experienced Cleveland medical malpractice attorneys.
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