A “never event” is a serious medical error that is considered largely preventable when basic patient-safety procedures are followed. Examples include operating on the wrong patient or body part, performing the wrong procedure, or leaving a surgical object inside a patient. These mistakes can cause additional treatment, permanent injury, or death.
If you or a loved one were harmed by a never event in Jacksonville, Florida, you can speak with Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers during a free consultation. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Contact our Jacksonville medical malpractice lawyers at (904) 356-6071 to schedule your free consultation.
How Can Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Never Event in Jacksonville, FL?
Never event cases often require a detailed investigation into what happened, why the error occurred, and whether proper safety procedures could have prevented it. Medical records, hospital policies, and other evidence can help show where the process failed.
A Jacksonville medical malpractice lawyer at Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers can investigate the incident and determine who may be responsible.
Our work may include:
- Reviewing medical, operative, and procedure records
- Examining consent and patient-identification documents
- Consulting qualified medical experts
- Reviewing hospital policies and safety procedures
- Identifying the providers involved in the error
- Documenting additional medical care, lost income, and other damages
A never event may involve multiple healthcare providers, departments, or facilities. We can gather the evidence needed to determine how the error occurred, connect it to your injuries, and identify the parties who may be legally responsible.
Call for a free consultation with an experienced Jacksonville personal injury attorney.
What Causes Never Events?
Never events are often associated with breakdowns in communication, verification, or basic safety procedures. A single mistake can be compounded when another member of the medical team fails to catch it before the patient is harmed.
Contributing failures may include:
- Incorrect patient identification
- Failure to confirm the surgical site
- Poor communication between providers
- Inaccurate medication or blood-product information
- Failure to count surgical instruments and sponges
- Ignoring established safety checklists
- Inadequate supervision or training
- Incomplete transfer of patient information
The purpose of reviewing these failures is not simply to show that an unusual outcome occurred. It is to determine whether the event was preventable and whether a healthcare provider’s conduct fell below the standard of care.
What Injuries Commonly Occur in Never Event Cases?
The injury caused by a never event depends on the mistake itself. Some patients require corrective surgery, while others suffer complications that affect their health long after the original treatment would have ended.
Possible injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Severe infections
- Nerve damage
- Loss of bodily function
- Permanent scarring
- Amputation
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death
Correcting the original mistake can create new medical expenses, time away from work, and additional pain. When the harm is permanent, future treatment and support needs may also become an important part of the case.
Who Could Be Liable for a Never Event?
Liability depends on each provider’s role in the patient’s care and the specific safety failure that caused the injury. More than one person or healthcare organization may share responsibility when separate errors combine to allow a never event to occur.
Potentially responsible parties may include:
- Surgeons
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Anesthesiologists
- Pharmacists
- Hospitals
- Surgical centers
- Other healthcare providers
A hospital may have its own responsibility when the problem involves staffing, training, procedures, or the actions of employees. Other cases may focus more directly on an individual provider’s decisions. The legal analysis should follow the evidence rather than assume that one person is responsible for the entire event.
How Long Do I Have to File a Never Events Lawsuit?
A hospital review, licensing investigation, or ongoing treatment does not preserve a patient’s civil claim by itself. In Florida, a medical malpractice action generally must be filed within two years from the incident or from when the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
Florida medical malpractice pre-suit requirements must also be completed before a lawsuit is filed. Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers can review the treatment dates and circumstances to determine which deadlines apply.
Contact a Jacksonville Never Events Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A never event can leave a patient facing additional medical care for an error that should have been prevented. Understanding how the mistake passed through the healthcare system can help determine whether there is a basis for holding the responsible providers accountable.
Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers can review the records, consult appropriate medical experts, and pursue compensation when the evidence supports a claim. Contact our firm to schedule a free consultation with a Jacksonville never events attorney.