Can I sue a hospital, or only the individual doctor?
My father was given the wrong medication dose by hospital staff and had a serious reaction. Do we bring a claim against the nurse, the doctor, or the hospital itself?
1 lawyer answer
It depends on who employed the people involved. Hospitals and health bodies are often responsible for the negligence of their employees, such as nurses and pharmacists. Some doctors are independent contractors, which can change who is liable.
Hospitals can also be directly responsible for system failures, like poor staffing, inadequate protocols or faulty medication checks.
A lawyer will usually identify all potentially responsible parties from the records. Many hospitals also have a formal complaints process; using it does not normally stop you from bringing a claim, but keep track of legal deadlines while it runs.
This is general information, not legal advice — speak to a licensed lawyer about your situation.
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