Is it Medical Malpractice if a Hospital Discharges You Too Early?

When a person goes to the hospital, they very often end up needing to stay for a while. If someone is undergoing surgery or another medical procedure, doctors need to make sure they’re recovering without complications. Or if someone goes to the hospital because they’re showing signs of an illness, doctors might need time to monitor their condition or run diagnostic tests. 

While it’s very important for patients to stay in the hospital long enough to get the care they need, there are many reasons why hospitals might want to avoid having patients stay too long. Some of those reasons are related to patient wellbeing. According to a study published in 2021, patients spending days in the hospital unnecessarily can be linked to a higher risk of hospital-acquired complications in patients, like falls and infections. Delays in hospital discharge can also be an indication of organizational problems within the hospital and reduce the availability of beds and other resources for new patients. 

Hospital discharge times can be a complicated matter. While a delayed hospital discharge can potentially negatively impact patients, is it considered medical malpractice if a patient is discharged too early? A key question in any medical malpractice case is whether or not a doctor with similar background and training, who is working under comparable conditions, would have made the same decisions. Another key question is whether or not the patient was directly harmed by the actions of a medical professional. 

Sometimes, patients end up being discharged earlier than expected simply because all signs indicate they are recovering quickly and the doctor reasonably believes the patient is medically stable. If that patient goes home and continues to recover without complications, it would not be considered medical malpractice. However, if a patient gets discharged early and later needs to be readmitted because a doctor didn’t review their vital signs before discharge or a medical condition worsens because the doctor didn’t order the appropriate tests to correctly diagnose it at the hospital, that could potentially be considered medical malpractice. 

Contact a Michigan Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you’ve been harmed by a medical error of any kind, it’s very important to consult a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Medical malpractice cases are very complex and it’s important to have someone on your side who knows the law and can help you get the justice you deserve. Doctors and healthcare systems can be quick to try and avoid blame for medical errors, but a lawyer will be able to help hold the appropriate people and organizations accountable for their actions. 

At Scott Goodwin Law, you’ll be able to get help from a medical malpractice lawyer based in Michigan. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and get answers to any questions you have about your case.

Image: Pexels / Pixabay