I'm amazed at the number of FReepers in this thread who think that hospitals are intimidated by lawsuits. Lawsuits, and lots of them are just part of the day to day operation of any hospital. This hospital probably has at the very least a dozen going on right now where someone actually died as the alleged result of someone's actions. I hate to break this to you guys, but an incident like this would be handed down to junior members of the legal team to settle or litigate.
I'm amazed that there is still someone in this country who is ignorant of the fact that lawsuits are one of the largest areas of expense for most hospitals in the US. The costs of liability and defensive medicine now represent 10% of health care spending. Of course lawsuits are treated seriously. To spout off on a public forum that hospital administrations are unconcerned with lawsuits is foolishly presumptuous and absurdly ignorant.
I hate to break this to you guys, but an incident like this would be handed down to junior members of the legal team to settle or litigate.
Had you read the original question (and I doubt that someone so certain in their errors would) you would already know that a negotiated non-monetary settlement is what the victim in this case is trying to obtain. The victim wants to make sure that this horrible procedural error never happens to anyone else. It's a noble cause and worthy of our reasoned consideration and thoughtful assistance.
I'll also add that I think it is sad and quite telling that a poster would strike out so vehemently (and so erroneously) at those offering assistance to the sorrowful. Such an abject lack of empathy reveals a great deal about that poster. I don't know what you have done, but I hope you can find forgiveness.
So what? That’s the point isn’t it? To settle or litigate. The victims already stated they are not looking to get rich, but to ensure policy changes and to resolve things with the administration to their satisfaction, and to protect future patients. I imagine an attorney who deals with medical matters would be the perfect person to represent their concerns.
To do this alone, the emotional trauma, well, my feeling as a woman, I couldn’t handle the letters, meetings, calls, details and such. The numerous rehashing of the incident that would be required possibly by personnel and such.
I would want an attorney, for legal advice and clarity, because he will know what to say and how to get some justice and some correct procedures in place. I’m not saying be vindictive, but this is what attorneys are for, to represent our legal interests when we cannot ourselves.