Coronavirus is a deadly virus with a high transmission rate. It has become so widespread that it has now disrupted the economies of every country on the planet. Since it is a novel virus, there are still tons about it that we do not know.
However, one thing rings true—the health and safety of the general public is of utmost importance. Who is at the helm of all this? All the medical frontline workers who are risking their lives to contain the virus and treat all patients.
However, the reality is grimmer for most, as many families now have to deal with the coronavirus’s effects. Some are lucky to recover, while others are unfortunate to succumb to the effects.
The Reality On the Ground
As of writing, the U.S. already recorded close to 105,000 total deaths. With more than 1.7 million coronavirus cases in the U.S., hospitals are now seeing a massive influx of patients to the point that they are already rejecting them for treatment. This is being done simply because their facility and their doctors can no longer attend to them.
In some cases, doctors are now forced to practice beyond their expertise. It is no longer unusual to see an orthopedic surgeon act as an anesthesiologist. This is so wrong on so many levels. They do not have the necessary training to do this. While doctors are uneasy about going beyond their expertise, they are worried about the consequences of their actions.
Doctors have limited resources, and they have to operate medical equipment that they’ve only seen for a few hours since medical school. They know that their inexperience and incompetence can lead to deaths, and unfortunately, lawsuits.
In this pandemic that we have right now, it is almost impossible for a medical worker not to make a mistake. They are the ones given the full authority to decide who should be treated in a medical facility, who should be sent home, and who needs to use the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
During a pandemic, people are placing their trust in these healthcare workers, and there should be no room for mistakes. For this reason, a number of doctors have requested immunity for medical malpractice.
While some states are granting healthcare workers this immunity protection they seek, they are only temporary. Law firms like the Tinker law firm are still on their toes to ensure that none of these healthcare workers abuse their immunity.
Caring for Coronavirus Patients is Still a Trial and Error
As mentioned, doctors are dealing with a novel virus. As such, they are still uncovering tons of new things about the virus, how it affects the body, and how it can be treated the best way possible. Everything is still new.
Due to this, the treatment process is still in its trial and error phase. Healthcare workers do not have any treatment standards that they can use to help patients recover. This is what lawyers and patients need to understand. They should only file for medical malpractice lawsuits if they see a blatant disregard for a COVID-19 positive patient’s health.
Otherwise, they should be careful not to blame the medical workers who are risking their lives to make sure that everyone who comes in their emergency room goes home.
If not, these exhausted medical workers can choose to go home, stay with their own families, and take care of themselves first and their loved ones rather than those who want to blame them. When this reality happens, patients would have no choice but to deal with the disease without any medical intervention.
