Not Less Than 300 Words And At Least Three Scholarly Referen

Not Less Than 300 Words And At Least 3 Scholarly References In Apa Format

Not less than 300 words and at least 3 scholarly references in APA format

Mrs. Smith, a patient who contracted a deadly staff infection following surgery and developed an autoimmune disease as a result, is filing a negligence suit against Bright Road Health System. There is a clear duty of care owed by healthcare providers, which involves a legal obligation to safeguard patients' rights and deliver appropriate care (Pozgar, 2016). In this case, the duty was established as Mrs. Smith was under the care of Dr. Paltrow and the attending nurses. However, a breach of this duty appears to have occurred, notably through failure to adhere to proper hand hygiene and glove-changing protocols before examining Mrs. Smith, as observed by witnesses and supported by hospital policies.

According to Pozgar (2016), breach of duty occurs when healthcare providers fail to conform to the standard of care required, such as neglecting to change gloves or practice proper handwashing between patient examinations. Evidence indicates that Dr. Paltrow did not change gloves or perform necessary hand hygiene, which directly contributed to the transmission of the staff infection. The subsequent delay in diagnosing the infection and failure to report symptoms promptly exacerbated Mrs. Smith’s condition, ultimately leading to an autoimmune disease — a severe consequence of healthcare negligence.

The causation element connects the breach of duty and the injury suffered by Mrs. Smith. Mendelson (2017) emphasizes that without a direct causal link, a negligence claim cannot stand. In this case, the hospital’s inadequate infection control policies, insufficient staff training, and failure to enforce compliance further contributed to the infection spread. Proper infection prevention measures, such as comprehensive hand hygiene protocols, adequate glove supplies, and staff education, are critical for minimizing healthcare-associated infections (Nurse, 2015).

Preventive strategies include mandatory handwashing, use of sterile gloves, appropriate wound care, and timely infection reporting, all of which can significantly reduce infection risks. Implementing strict policies and regular staff training can foster a culture of safety and accountability. Moreover, physical environment modifications, like accessible handwashing stations and sanitizer stations, enhance compliance (CDC, 2020). The negligence here also involves breach of organizational duty, as the hospital failed to uphold standard care through inadequate policies and staff oversight.

In conclusion, the case underscores that adherence to established protocols and continuous staff education are vital in preventing healthcare-associated infections. Bright Road’s failure to enforce proper infection control practices resulted in Mrs. Smith’s grievous injury, indicating negligence. Hospitals bear the responsibility of creating a safe environment for patients, and neglecting these duties can lead to severe legal consequences. Ensuring compliance through policy enforcement and ongoing training is essential for minimizing risks and protecting patient safety.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Healthcare-associated Infections: Roadmap to Infection Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hai/prevent/prevention.html
• Habibzadeh, F. (2011). Application of peer review in investigating allegations of medical negligence and malpractice. Archives of Iranian Medicine, 14(1), 56-57.
• Mendelson, D. (2017). Causation in law and medicine. Routledge.
• Nurse, D. A. (2015). Staph infections-hospital. Retrieved from https://www.nurse.com
• Pozgar, G. D. (2016). Legal aspects of health care administration (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.