According to the National Institute of Mental Health: “Any mental illness (AMI) is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder. AMI can vary in impact, ranging from no impairment to mild, moderate, and even severe impairment (e.g., individuals with serious mental illness as defined below). Serious mental illness (SMI) is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. The burden of mental illnesses is particularly concentrated among those who experience disability due to SMI. (NIMH, para. 3)”
Were you aware that about one in five adults currently suffer from a mental illness? And that one in 25 suffer from a severe mental condition in the United States? South Winds Hospital is a psychiatric facility in Miami-Dade County that focuses on providing their patients with short-term, acute care for behavioral health disorders. Providing care and treatment for those who suffer from a mental illness is not an easy task. Not every medical professional is equipped to deal with these types of patients because they require special treatment that only a studied medical provider for behavioral health issues can provide. Sometimes, these patients display aggressiveness, suicidal thoughts, and other behaviors that a physician may not be able to handle. South Winds Hospital has a team composed of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, medical specialists, addiction counselors, psychiatric social workers, and therapists that are available to provide a wide variety of services to their patients. Skilled Miami, FL medical malpractice attorneys at Percy Martinez Law Firm know that cases of medical malpractice can occur to anyone seeking any form of medical treatment, even those who suffer from mental illnesses. Maybe the nurse gave them too much medication, maybe the psychiatrist prescribed them the wrong drug– there are many possible situations that could lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit at South Winds Hospitals. These are the areas in which they are licensed to treat:
- Avoidance Disorder
- Bi-Polar
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Dependent Personality Disorder
- Depression
- Dual Diagnosis
- Addiction
- Eating Disorders
- Histrionic Personality Disorder
- Homicidal Ideationsood Disorder
- Multiple Personality Disorder
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Suicidal Ideations
- Pain Management
- Panic
- Personality Disorders
- Phobia
- Poor Impulse Control
- Post-Traumatic Stress
- Process Addiction
- Trauma
These are all very delicate issues that if treated incorrectly can be fatal. Did you go to South Winds Hospital to cure your condition, but came out with additional damages? If so, you or your loved one might be eligible to receive compensation for all of those damages. Learn more about medical malpractice and possible lawsuits and what it entails with our expert medical malpractice lawyers in Miami, FL.
South Winds Hospital Possible Situations
It is a given that almost every person that suffers from a mental condition takes some form of medication, whether it was prescribed by a general doctor, or a psychiatrist, medication is a major 
part of controlling a condition from turning worse. Did you know that even advice that a medical provider offers their patients can be considered medical malpractice if the patient was injured due to following that medical provider’s incompetent advice? These are some situations at South Winds Hospital that can end up in a medical malpractice lawsuit:
- Incorrect medication prescription malpractice lawsuit: When a psychiatrist is about to prescribe a drug to a patient, they must review their condition thoroughly, and investigate any previous issues that they might be suffering from. If the psychiatrist misdiagnosis the mental condition that the patient has and gives them the wrong drug, the patient can end up in a worst state. Their mental condition might progress even further, or they might even develop a new one. Incorrect medication prescription is a serious medical negligence that could amount to a medical malpractice lawsuit.
- Wrong dose of medication medical malpractice lawsuit: Now, just like the prescription of the wrong drug is a severe medical negligence, so is giving the patient the wrong dose. Too much or too little of any form of drug is always bad. Weight is a factor that always needs to be considered when prescribing drugs. In addition, before giving the dose amount that the patient should be consuming, the medical provider must review past history, current medications that they are taking, and the condition that they are currently suffering from to ensure that the correct amount is being given to the patient.
- Bad advice medical malpractice lawsuit: Negligence is the foundation for all medical malpractice cases. When the proper standard of care is not followed through, even when giving a patient bad advice, if damages came to that patient, they can pursue a lawsuit for bad advice. For example, let’s say a patient suffering from poor impulse control is told to take a certain medication when they were already on specific prescriptions, but the doctor realizes that they are not having any effect. Now, the patient is consuming more than one medication. The patient has an adverse effect of the medication because the doctor failed to review the medications that they were currently taking. The patient is now rendered a victim of medical malpractice. Or, let’s say someone suffering from an eating disorder is advised by their doctor to do a water fast. The patient does it but suffers additional harms because the eating disorder they suffered from was anorexia, causing them to suffer from malnutrition. That is an example of bad advice.
Becoming a victim of medical malpractice can happen at any moment. Sadly, patients that seek help for their mental condition are often trying to get better, not worse. When substandard care is provided to these patients, the risk of encountering a moment of medical negligence rises. Miami, FL medical malpractice expert lawyers at Percy Martinez Law Firm understand the crucial importance that each medical professional caring for a patient plays in their future. One simple medical error can change the patient’s life and even leave them permanently disabled. Become informed and stay alert.
Mental Illness Numbers
- In a given year, 43.8 million people suffer from a mental condition
- In a given year, 9.8 million people suffer from a severe mental condition
- At some point during their life, those aged 13-18 will suffer from a severe mental illness
- Schizophrenia currently affects 1.1% of adults
- Bipolar disorder currently affects 2.6% of adults
- In the past year, about 16 million people have had at least one major depressive episode
- Anxiety disorders affects 18.1% of the US population
- $193.2 billion is used for serious mental health conditions every year
- Chronic medical conditions increase for those suffering from mental health conditions
Medical Malpractice Legal Representation for South Winds Hospital
Do you want justice for the harm that has been done to you or your loved one? Are you struggling financially to keep up with all the bills you acquired due to the hospital’s negligence? Has this occurrence caused you a great deal of trauma and pain? If you have answered yes to all of these questions, come consult with our best medical malpractice lawyers in Miami, FL. We will review your case with accuracy and take into account all of the evidence that is present. We will work alongside medical experts and obtain all witness testimonies to ensure that your medical malpractice lawsuit has the best chance at success. We are here to address all of your needs and concerns. Call us today.
References:
http://southernwindshospital.com/
https://www.injuryattorneyofdallas.com/can-sue-doctor-giving-bad-advice/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/medical-standard-care-malpractice-case.html
https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers