Cruise ship medical malpractice is far too common aboard cruise ships. Newlyweds from Louisiana experienced this first hand when an injury nearly caused the groom to have his foot amputated.

About Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice

Modern mega cruise ships now have urgent care centers on board that is staffed with doctors and nurses who can treat passengers suffering from a wide range of illnesses and injuries. These range from sea sickness, broken bones, and in some instances, even life-threatening medical conditions.
However, a previous law made passengers unable to hold these medical professionals accountable when they injured patients. The cruise industry has been fighting to keep their immunity for decades, but a few years ago the court reversed it.

Medical Malpractice Nightmare

While enjoying a nice paddle board ride, the groom fell off the board. Coral sliced both of his feet. According to reports, it was a gory and painful experience. It got worse when the ship doctor who stitched the wounds downplayed the severity.
And you know, there we had to make a decision the injured groom said. Do you want to go to a Honduran clinic, or do you want to get back to the boat? So, based on the fact that we had purchased (extra medical) insurance, I was very confident that getting back to the boat was absolutely the best bet.
The physician, Dr. Adrian Gomez, kept telling him that his deepest wound was not bad. In fact, he prescribed him nothing more than Ibuprofen for the searing pain. The doctor gave him antibiotics, however, it was not for the wound. The groom later learned it was for intestinal bacteria.
Two weeks later, one of the wounds became infected. The couple rushed to a Baton Rouge hospital when the foot swelled and a rash crept up his leg. The surgeon performed emergency surgery and found two pieces of coral sewn inside his foot. There was also a severed tendon, and he almost had his foot amputated.

Holding Cruise Ship Doctors Accountable

Cruise ships say they employ certified and qualified doctors on board, but a lot of the doctors are foreign nationals. This means these doctors don’t always have the certifications guaranteed to patients at a hospital in the United States.
Norwegian cruise lines still have not told the couple of Dr. Gomez’ qualifications, which lead the couple to believe he didn’t have the requirements.
When injured on a cruise, you don’t have a choice in medical care. You rely on the medical staff on the ship. When they are incompetent, passengers suffer. When the onboard medical staff fails to adequately and competently treat an individual who is sick or injured, there may be medical negligence.

Get Help After Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice

If you, your child, or your relative suffered a cruise ship medical malpractice, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Once you disembark, your next step should be to get experienced legal help from a knowledgeable attorney.
At The Michael Brady Lynch Firm, our lawyers have decades of experience helping injured people get justice and full compensation for injuries caused negligence. Given that lawsuits against cruise ships are in a venue favorable to the cruise lines, it is incredibly important to have an experienced attorney with ample resources to prosecute your claim. The Michel Brady Lynch Firm regularly takes on the largest corporations in the world with a track record of proven success and results. Contact The Michael Brady Lynch Firm today, and our attorneys will review your case for free and help you protect your rights. For your complimentary consultation, call our office now.