South Florida Injury Attorneys Blog
Earlier this month, the first case of Ebola was documented in the United States. The first case was a Texas man who had recently returned from a trip to Liberia. He died 14 days after he was exposed to the deadly virus.
Shortly after his death, a healthcare worker started to develop symptoms of Ebola. The healthcare worker was diagnosed with Ebola and underwent a course of treatment for the disease, luckily recovering 14 days after diagnosis. Just days after the first healthcare worker was diagnosed, another hospital employee was then diagnosed with Ebola, bringing the total count to three. This person, however, flew to Atlanta the day before diagnosis, so all passengers on the two flights needed to be screened. The Centers for Disease Control is currently conducting the necessary screens.
According to a report by one local South Florida news source, South Florida nurses are calling on their hospitals to step up their protective efforts in dealing with Ebola, should a case arise in South Florida. Members of National Nurses United gathered last Friday in Fort Lauderdale to bring awareness to the issue, arguing that “We haven’t gotten hands on effective training that we need to take care of any patient that walks into the ER.”
Nurses are concerned both for the safety of their patients and also for their own safety, after the two health care professionals in Texas were diagnosed with Ebola after helping treat the first US case of the disease.
Preventing the Spread of Infectious Disease in Hospitals and Nursing Homes
Whether in a hospital or a nursing home, the governing standard when it comes to whether a medical professional is engaging in negligence is whether he or she is providing the level of care that a reasonable professional with the same training would provide, given the situation. In cases such as this current Ebola outbreak, it may be hard to say what a reasonable health-care professional would do, since the disease has not been seen on US soil before.
However, there are certain processes and protocols that should be followed in all situations, including unknown scenarios, and when they are not followed people are more likely to contract deadly diseases, and the spread of these diseases is more likely to occur. Whether in the context of Ebola or any other deadly disease or infection, nursing homes have a duty to ensure the safe treatment of their patients, no matter the situation. If you believe that you have been injured because of a lapse in sound judgment, you should speak to a dedicated nursing home attorney.
Have You Been the Victim of Nursing Home Negligence or Maltreatment?
If you or a loved one has recently been the victim of what you believe was nursing home negligence, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To learn more about the Florida laws governing nursing home negligence cases, consult with a dedicated attorney at Cecere Santana. The South Florida personal injury law firm of Cecere Santana has over 35 years of collective experience litigating on behalf of its clients in all kinds of personal injury cases, including those of nursing home abuse and neglect. Call 800-753-5529 to set up your free initial consultation.