Let's pretend that you go to the hospital because you need your appendix taken out. You have an emergency surgery, and you stay a couple of days at the center. Then, as you leave, you begin to experience nausea and vomiting. As it turns out, you now have the flu. How did this happen? You contracted a virus at the hospital.

Hospitals are making efforts to prevent the aforementioned incident from happening. In fact, medical facilities are using robots that emit UV lights or hydrogen peroxide vapors to make sure this does not occur. However, sources suggest that these sterilization efforts are not enough.

Hospital infections are the reason for 100,000 fatalities every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Moreover, many of the recent concerns are over a stomach bug called Clostridium difficile (C-diff). C-diff creates 14,000 deaths in the country annually. The diarrhea-causing virus has encouraged hospitals to make stronger sterilization efforts, but this is not really working.

Medical professionals and care providers have the responsibility of protecting patients. These workers are held to a very high standard. Therefore, they must practice due care in operations, treatment and the housing of patients. If they do not, this is when patients come out of the hospital with more issues than when they arrived.

If you believe you have been harmed in the medical setting – from a misdiagnosis, surgical error or something related to treatment – you may benefit from speaking with an attorney. A medical malpractice lawyer can be by your side and help you assess whether you have any rights of recovery.

Source: USA Today, "Hospitals see surge of superbug-fighting products," April 29, 2013