Norwegian Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Nearly Costs a Passenger His Leg
A honeymoon cruise quickly turned into a nightmare for a passenger aboard the Norwegian Pearl Cruise. The poor medical treatment he received on the ship almost caused him to lose his leg. This case represents one of many that shed light on the lack of medical treatment cruise passengers have available to them if they become seriously sick or injured at sea due to Norwegian Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice.
Brant and Danielle Aymond were otherwise enjoying their week-long honeymoon onboard the Norwegian Pearl Cruise, when Brant suffered an injury while paddle boarding on a Coral Reef in Honduras. He fell off the board, and sharp pieces of the coral reef cut him on the soles of his feet. He sought medical care and treatment onboard the cruise ship.
The ship’s doctor examined his foot, cleaned and stitched the wound, and gave the passenger ibuprofen and an antibiotic. It was not until later that it was discovered the medication was meant to treat intestinal bacteria and not an open wound.
Aymond was in a great deal of pain for the remainder of the trip and spent the rest of the time in bed. It was not until they returned home to Louisiana and Aymond saw his family doctor that he realized just how bad the injury was. His physician immediately ordered an X-ray, which showed that the cruise ship doctor had stitched up the injury with pieces of coral still lodged inside his foot.
Aymond also had an untreated severed tendon and a serious infection that had spread. He ended up needing emergency surgery to avoid losing his leg completely.
Today, Aymond is able to walk again but is in a great deal of pain and will need continued rehabilitation and physical therapy. Aymond and his wife have been trying to discuss his medical treatment with Norwegian Cruise Line for months to no avail.
The problem the Aymond’s faced is not an uncommon one, and one we see often at our firm. Many of the medical staff on cruise ships have only basic medical training and are only able to handle first-aid or minor medical issues. Aymond’s injuries proved to be too much for the doctor who treated him following the accident. Thanks to a decision made in 2014, cruise lines can be held liable for negligence made by shipboard medical staff. The decision was made from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals after an elderly cruise ship passenger fell and hit his head. Due to lack of medical attention and care by the designated medical personnel onboard, he passed away a week later.
Some of the most common cruise ship passenger injuries we see as maritime lawyers include misdiagnosed fractures, head injuries and spinal injuries. Oftentimes the doctors and nurses that provide the medical care and treatment onboard these ships are not properly trained to diagnose these injuries. If you have been injured on a cruise, it is important to get a second opinion immediately from a competent board-certified medical doctor as soon as you arrive on land. If you have sustained injuries because of treatment you received from the shipboard medical staff, you have every right to hold the cruise line accountable for your injuries due to medical malpractice.
INJURED ON A CRUISE SHIP DUE TO MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE OR MALPRACTICE? SPEAK TO A CRUISE SHIP ACCIDENT LAWYER TODAY: 1-866-597-4529.
If harmed by medical negligence while onboard a cruise ship, you have the legal right to hold those responsible accountable. It is important that you speak as soon as possible with a lawyer who specializes in personal injury claims against cruise lines. Most cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC, Disney, Holland America, Princess, Costa, Regents Seven Seas and Oceania require that claims against them be pursued in a very specific place under very strict deadlines. Failure to comply with each individual cruise lines deadlines can result in a complete loss of any and all legal rights.
Aronfeld Trial Lawyers is a personal injury firm located in Miami, Florida since 1991. We have fought hard to hold cruise lines accountable when they put their profits ahead of passenger safety. We are available 24/7 and encourage you to contact us even if you are still on your cruise. The sooner we can begin our investigation and preservation of key evidence, such as the CCTV footage of your trip and fall, slip and fall, assault or other type of injury the more likely we will be able to understand and prove how the incident occurred. Remember, the cruise lines have the most aggressive and well-funded defense lawyers in the world- protecting their profits. You need an experienced legal advocate in your corner who will fight to obtain the compensation you deserve for lost wages, medical expenses, transportation reimbursement and pain and suffering. Call us today and speak with a cruise ship claims lawyer about your potential claim- toll free 1-866-597-4529, 305-441-0440, or by email. We are ready to help.
