Nursing Errors That Can Lead to Patient Harm
Nurses play a critical role in patient care, often serving as the primary point of contact between patients and the healthcare system. When nursing staff fail to follow proper protocols or make preventable mistakes, patients can suffer serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries. At Parham, Smith, & Archenhold, LLC, our Greenville medical malpractice lawyers help patients and families pursue accountability when nursing errors result in harm.
Defining Nursing Errors
Doctors are not the only medical professionals who must work to ensure patient safety. Every medical professional involved has to uphold certain safety protocols throughout the entirety of your care. A nursing error occurs when a nurse fails to provide care that meets the accepted standard of practice, resulting in patient injury.
While nurses are expected to exercise professional judgment in fast-paced medical environments, they are also required to follow physician orders, hospital policies, and established safety protocols. Nursing errors may occur when a nurse:
- Fails to properly monitor a patient’s condition or vital signs
- Administers the wrong medication or incorrect dosage
- Gives medication to the wrong patient
- Fails to report changes in a patient’s condition to a physician
- Does not follow post-operative care instructions
- Improperly documents or records patient information
- Fails to follow infection control procedures
When these mistakes result in patient harm, the nurse or healthcare facility may be held legally responsible.
Deadline for Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim in South Carolina
Medical malpractice claims in South Carolina are subject to strict filing deadlines. In most cases, a claim must be filed within the time limits set forth under South Carolina Code § 15-3-545, which generally requires that a claim be filed within three years of the date the injury occurred or was discovered, subject to certain exceptions.
Before filing your case, South Carolina also requires compliance with strict pre-suit procedures designed to ensure that medical malpractice claims are supported by a valid legal and medical basis. Under South Carolina Code § 15-79-125, a claimant must first file a Notice of Intent to File Suit and participate in a pre-suit mediation process.
This notice begins a mandatory review period during which the parties have an opportunity to exchange information and attempt to resolve the claim without proceeding to litigation. The goal of this process is to encourage early evaluation and settlement of potential medical malpractice disputes before a case is formally filed.
Consult With Our Greenville, SC Medical Malpractice Lawyers
At Parham, Smith, & Archenhold, LLC, our medical malpractice attorneys in Greenville are dedicated to advocating for patients and families who have been harmed by preventable medical mistakes. When nursing negligence or other forms of healthcare error result in injury, we work to help clients pursue the compensation they need to address both immediate and long-term impacts of their losses.
If you believe you or a loved one was injured due to nursing negligence, we encourage you to reach out for a confidential case evaluation. Contact our office online or call us at 864-242-9008 to speak with a member of our team today.