Many do not know that a cruise ship is not fully capable of handling a serious medical issue. This is why many ships will remove a passenger from the ship if the medical conditions prove to be more complicated than the staff can handle. This is because, despite their claims, many cruise lines do not hire qualified medical personnel.

About Cruise Ship Medical Mishaps

Unfortunately, cruise ships can injure passengers in a variety of different ways. Regardless of how the injury happens, a passenger expects the same level of medical care as one would receive onshore. If the medical care is subpar and onboard medical professionals misdiagnose a person’s injury, the cruise ship company could be liable.  Sometimes, cruise lines do not perform due diligence when hiring qualified medical staff.

Examples of Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice

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. Examples of medical negligence include:

• Failure to diagnose
• Delayed diagnosis
• Failure to provide prompt medical treatment
• Incorrect medical treatment
• Denied medical treatment.

Passengers Can Now Get Justice for Cruise Ship Medical Mishaps

Previously, state and federal courts ruled that injured parties could not sue the cruise lines for any medical negligence. However, recently, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the longstanding rule. The court stated that the prior rule was outdated. Modern cruise ships have luxury amenities. These include state-of-the-art medical facilities and even intensive care units.  Because of this, there is no reason not to expect the same medical care found onshore.  The court found no reason to protect cruise lines from medical malpractice claims.
More than half of people who seek medical care on a cruise ship are over the age of 65. Also, a large percentage have chronic or pre-existing medical conditions that necessitate medical treatment. Therefore, cruise ship marketing material touts its state-of-the-art medical facilities. However, they fail to mention that their doctors may not be licensed to practice medicine in the United States.

Don’t Wait to Get Help

If you, your child, or your relative suffered from cruise ship medical mishaps, 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.