Q What happens once a lawsuit has been filed against me?

A Before you know that you have been named as a defendant in a lawsuit, a former patient of yours has determined that you in your role as a nurse did something that caused an injury to him or her. In most cases, this former patient will have consulted a lawyer who will review this patient’s medical records, talk to the patient, and make a decision if there are enough facts to support a lawsuit against you as a health-care professional.

Once a lawyer has determined that you may have been negligent, a lawsuit will be prepared that outlines the allegations the former patient has against you. These charges are called “allegations” because the patient has the responsibility to prove that these charges are, in fact, true. The party that brings charges has this “burden of proof.” Once a...

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