When Medical Errors Occur at UCSF Medical Center

UCSF Medical Center is a network of more than a half dozen campuses across the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a teaching hospital that is ranked No 7. on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll. Its two prime locations consist of UCSF Medical Center Mission Bay and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. These two locations draw in thousands of patients from all over the world, seeking exceptional treatment and care for a variety of illnesses and diseases. Yet, UCSF Medical Center has also been the subject of numerous medical malpractice lawsuits and medical errors in recent years. Many of these lawsuits center around medical misdiagnosis and infections.

In 2020, UCSF Medical Center received a safety grade of a C. The reason they received such a low grade was that they performed below average in several categories:

• High rate of C.diff infection, a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon.
• High rate of urinary tract infection
• High rate of blood infections
• High rate of dangerous blood clots after surgery
• Low rate of handwashing
• Staff did not work together to prevent medical errors

When a hospital or medical professional fails to take the necessary safety precautions, patients can acquire deadly infections, such as C-diff and MRSA.

UCSF and its medical staff have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their patients. This includes performing proper handwashing and keeping all surfaces disinfected and equipment sterilized. This prevents the spread of infection throughout the hospital. While it is not possible to prevent all secondary infections, a hospital has a responsibility to maintain a clean environment. It also must establish policies and protocols that eradicate as many of these infections as possible.

Likewise, physicians and medical professionals have a responsibility to adhere to these policies and protocols to ensure patient safety. They also must recognize the signs of a secondary infection quickly so that it can be treated aggressively to prevent further complications. When a physician fails to diagnose an infection or misdiagnoses an infection, the patient can suffer serious harm — and even death.

If you or someone you love has acquired a secondary infection after a hospitalization or surgery, the hospital or medical professional may be guilty of malpractice. The attorneys at Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard, L.L.P, can help you during this difficult time. We know how to hold physicians, hospitals, and staff accountable for their mistakes and for the harm they have caused.

Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against UCSF Medical Center is not easy. If you or someone you love suffered harm because of a medical error, misdiagnosis, secondary infection, or surgical error, it is crucial to act quickly. If you miss this deadline, you may not be able to file a claim to collect the compensation you deserve. There are exceptions to this rule, however. As such, it is essential to call our law firm even if you believe you may have missed this deadline.

When filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, your attorney must establish that the medical professional and/or hospital failed to uphold a standard of care. This means that they deviated from the steps another physician would have taken in the same circumstances. This takes a considerable amount of investigation and retaining expert witnesses to testify on your behalf.

UCSF Medical Center has a self-insurance program for medical professional liability called the UC Hospital Medical Professional Liability Program. This provides liability coverage for all health care workers and trainees at their facilities. At Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard, L.L.P, our medical malpractice attorneys are familiar with this program and with the hospital’s liabilities. We know how to seek maximum compensation for our injured clients and can protect your rights every step of the way.

If you or someone you love suffered an injury at UCSF Medical Center, it is important to know that you are not alone. You deserve compensation for your injuries and for the harm you suffered because of a medical professional’s negligence. UCSF is a large teaching hospital that has considerable resources and teams dedicated to reducing their liability. You deserve a team on your side too!

At Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard, L.L.P, our San Francisco Bay Area medical malpractice attorneys have the experience and resources needed to tackle these complex cases. Call us at (408) 289-1417 or fill out our confidential contact form for more information. We offer a free consultation and review of your case to help you during this difficult time better.