A patient at a Newport Beach hospital sustained personal injuries after she was placed on a metal gurney that was pulled into an MRI machine. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach has been fined $50,000 by the California Department of Public Health for this incident, which according to records, occurred in January 2009. The powerful magnet in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine pulled the gurney into the machine and her leg was trapped for about three minutes. She suffered fractures in her lower leg and foot.
Failure to Follow Policy Causes Injuries
Hoag Hospital failed to follow its own policy of not allowing gurneys that are not "MRI safe" in the hallways outside the testing room. The hospital has apparently adopted new procedures including a checklist that must be done prior to entering the MRI room as well as an installation of a camera to monitor whether these safety procedures are being followed. This fine is the hospital's third since 2007. Last year, Hoag was slapped with a $25,000 fine for failure to monitor a heart patient, which resulted in the patient's death. Also, in 2008, the hospital was handed a $25,000 penalty for leaving a sponge in a cancer patient's body during surgery. Now, those penalties have been increased by the state to $50,000.
My heart goes out to the injured patient and her family for their traumatic experience. It is sad that a patient who was ill to begin with was further injured as a result of the hospital's negligence.
Claim for Compensation
In such cases where a hospital's, physician's or surgeon's error causes personal injuries, the injured victim can file a claim for compensation against the hospital. Victims may seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages (if applicable), emotional distress, pain and suffering, as well as cost for additional treatment, surgery or therapy. If death resulted as a result of the negligence, families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim.
When those who are ill or in need of medical treatment visit a hospital, they expect a certain level of care. It is disappointing to hear that even reputed hospitals have these slip-ups. There is a need to be addressed here and I hope the hospital has addressed it. Injured victims of these types of accidents, would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Newport Beach personal injury lawyer, who will be able to explain their legal rights and options.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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