What Happens When There Is Medical Malpractice on a Cruise Ship?

What Happens When There Is Medical Malpractice on a Cruise Ship?

No one goes on a cruise ship expecting to sustain a serious injury or illness. But passengers who require medical treatment on their cruise expect that the care they receive will be delivered according to the highest standard.

Many passengers assume they will have the same medical care and treatment on a cruise as they would on land, which is simply not the case.  There are also unique health risks on cruise ships, including the risk of Covid-19. Many cruise ships have doctors on board, trained in emergency medicine- but some do not, and they are not required to.

Some of the most common 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 professionally 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 harmed by medical negligence while onboard a cruise ship, you have the legal right to hold those responsible accountable. Cruise injury claims are complex due to jurisdictional issues, so it is important to contact an experienced maritime attorney right away. Miami-based Aronfeld Trial Lawyers has 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.

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.