When is a Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection Medical Malpractice?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Hospital Acquired Urinary Tract Infections kill more than 13,000 hospital patients every year; representing more than 15 percent of all infections acquired in a hospital. The only type of hospital acquired infection that is responsible for more deaths is pneumonia.

Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) is considered a preventable injury in 69 percent of cases; and is therefore classified as a “never event” because it should never happen. Despite their preventable nature, CAUTIs happen all too often. A 2013 study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) identified over 1 million CAUTIs in U.S. hospitals annually. The report noted the shocking finding that most of these infections were the result of “unnecessary catheter placement.”

When is a Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection Medical Malpractice?

Because CAUTIs are seen as “never events” there is a reasonable chance that a Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection and subsequent injuries*/wrongful death were caused by medical malpractice (negligence). A medical malpractice attorney will look at each case and let you know your legal rights. He or she will look to see if a case can be built on the following four elements:

1. Patient/doctor relationship: the injured party must have been treated by the medical professional or at the hospital in question within a reasonable timeframe before the infection began.
2. Standard of care was not met: it must be proved that the health care provider or hospital acted negligently; that there was a deviation from the reasonable standard of care expected from a qualified peer under similar circumstances. To make this determination, expert medical witnesses will evaluate and testify about patient risk factors like prior health conditions, organizational risk factors such as communication breakdowns and iatrogenic risk factors including basic sanitation and health practices.
3. Negligence: evidence that the physician or hospital’s negligence was directly responsible for the patient’s injuries.
4. Damages: Evidence that the injury caused calculable damages to the patient or their direct family members including pain and suffering, medical bills, ongoing healthcare needs, lost wages, permanent impairment, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of emotional support, funeral expenses and more.

*Serious complications caused by Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection

Men are susceptible to complications of UTIs including:

• Pyelonephritis,
• Prostatitis
• Orchitis
• Epididymitis
• Cystitis
• Gram-negative bacteremia

Men and women are susceptible to complication of UTIs including:

• Meningitis
• Septic arthritis
• Vertebral osteomyelitis
• Endocarditis

Seeking legal help for a Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection

If you or a loved one has suffered serious personal injury or wrongful death from a catheter associated urinary tract infection, it is in your interest to seek a consultation with a dedicated medical malpractice lawyer. He or she knows the laws in your state and may be able to fight for damages to help you recoup losses and compensate for pain and suffering.

The Seattle personal injury attorneys at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC have years of experience representing families harmed by medical malpractice and other types of negligence. We seek justice for patients who have been harmed by preventable medical errors including birth injuries, hospital-acquired infections and wrongful death in Seattle and across Washington State. There are no fees or expenses to file a personal injury case as we only receive payment if we recover damages on your behalf. Do not delay; personal injury claims come with a Statute of Limitations, which means they must be filed within a certain time frame of the injury.

Call us now at (206) 752-4366 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our compassionate, experienced attorneys.