In Hawaii and all other states, it is considered medical malpractice when a hospital patient suffers injury, illness or death due to negligence, mistakes or other wrongful actions on the part of medical staff. A fatal medical error is alleged to have caused the recent death of a military veteran. The decedent’s family has pursued legal action against the hospital where the death of their loved one occurred.
The man was reported to have been a patient in a veteran’s hospital in another state. He died after his blood-oxygen levels plummeted to a dangerously low level. At the time of his death, the man was 65 years old.
According to reports, the veteran’s family claims that a nurse’s negligent actions led to their loved one’s death. The nurse in question has admitted to turning off the medical equipment that would have registered an alarm to the staff with regard to the low blood-oxygen levels of the patient. The nurse has also surrendered his nursing license. The family of the deceased is seeking compensation for damages, including payment for costs sustained through funeral expenses.
Residents of Hawaii who suffer the loss of an immediate family member due to a fatal medical error have the right to consult legal professionals with regard to filing a claim in a civil court. Depending on the type of damages sustained in the aftermath of the family member’s death, which might include loss of wages, funeral expenses or outstanding medical bills, those filing a suit can seek compensation to absorb such costs. A logical first step in the process would be to contact a legal team for advice and to discuss available options for filing a medical malpractice claim.
Source: kcci.com, “Negligence lawsuit filed in death at veteran’s hospital“, March 11, 2015