What Will You Do If Your Hospital Closes?

Unfortunately, due to our weakened economy, a bad job market, and poor planning, many hospitals around New York may soon be closing their doors for good. Closures due to bankruptcy, such as that of St. Vincent’s Manhattan Hospital, may result in a multitude of alarming consequences that may cause both medical malpractice claims to rise and render the task of collecting already litigated settlements impossible.

First, hospital closures may result in a terrifying loss of emergency rooms. That would mean that patients with critical injuries would have nowhere to go in times of medical crisis.Second, hospital closures could also result in numerous victims of medical malpractice to be unable to collect the settlements that juries have said they are entitled to collect. In the case of St. Vincent’s, their bankruptcy filing has already caused malpractice suits and settlement recoveries to stall. Third, when a hospital closes, there is always a high probability that medical records with being lost or destroyed.

For those already in malpractice litigation, this might mean that they will no longer be able to prove that the hospital provided them with negligent care, as their medical records are most likely a vital part of their case. For others, it could mean the loss of information vital to their well-being including family history, vaccinations, and medical treatments that have worked in the past. This may lead the owners of the records to start suits against the hospital for the loss, and medical malpractice suits may rise overall.

If your hospital is going to close or has closed, you are not without options or redress. I may be able to help you with new or ongoing malpractice litigation involving these hospitals and address problems concerning your medical records. While it may be impossible for me to fix the economy, or make these hospitals re-open their doors, I can inform you of your rights and may be able to help you obtain the settlement that you are entitled to from a hospital that is closing. It is imperative that you learn your rights as soon as possible, as it may be your hospital that is closing its doors next!