A recent Fort Lauderdale cruise ship passenger claims that a series of fatal misdiagnosis and errors on the part of the cruise ship led to her husband’s death. This is a serious allegation, but not entirely unfounded. Cruise ship negligence, including medical misdiagnosis, treatment errors, premises liability, poor security and other unfortunate circumstances, are not uncommon, especially in cruise ships departing from the popular Fort Lauderdale, FL hub.
In fact, an International Cruise Victims Association exists for the sole purpose of lobbying for the rights of cruise ship negligence victims and their loved ones. They have had some success in helping reform (or create from nonexistence) regulation regarding the safety of cruise ship passengers in the United States. Cruise ships lines have adopted a policy for medical care. Previously, one in four cruise ship doctors did not even have specific training with heart attacks, according to one survey.
If the current cruise line medical policies are inadequate, what recourse do victims of cruise ship negligence and their loved ones have? Many seek the services of a Fort Lauderdale cruise ship negligence attorney who, as they are likely located near the departure hub, have ease of access to investigate the cruise ship in question. An attorney experienced in Florida medical malpractice law will further understand the nuance behind understanding liability between medical care providers and determine the merits of pursing legal action.
However, before a victim of cruise ship negligence even considers legal representation, there are many actions that they should first take. First, the cruise’s medical personnel and crew must be immediately alerted. If there are any witnesses of the injury or passenger’s treatment, their contact information should be taken as they can be potential witnesses. If possible, photographs of the scene of injury and injury itself should be taken. Additionally, copies of the ship’s medical records of the passenger and cruise ship incident report should be made. These actions can help strengthen a cruise ship passenger’s case and clarify the lines of liability.
