Infection not told to family before patient released from hospital...

[Allison7691]

What is the name of your state?MA

My mom was recently in the hospital for a heart attack, pneumonia and congestive heart failure. They just released her from the hospital last night. Well we just found out from one of her visiting nurses that she has this viral infection that is considered highly contagious. I feel we should have been told this in order to protect ourselves. I mean arent they supposed to let family members know that they could get sick from touching anything of the patients. say throwing a tissue of theirs away for them or something? What legal rights do we have? And should she have been released from the hospital with a contagious infection even though she is on antibiotics?

[ellencee]

What type of viral infection? Viruses do not respond to antibiotics and are not treated with antibiotics.

Good handwashing is all you need to do; if you handle used tissues, wash your hands under running water and use soap. Did you really need to be told to wash your hands after caring for a sick person?

Your mother was discharged with arrangements for a home health nurse. That covers discharge planning for teaching the family.

I see no area that indicates any legal issue.

EC

[Allison7691]

I still feel we shouldve been told she had the infection. And yes i know how to wash my hands. Rudeness wasnt needed!

[DiannaMaria66]

I saw NOTHING rude about the answer from Ellen,it was to the point and no nonsense.

[ellencee]

I wasn't being rude or intending to be rude in any way. You, however, were seeking legal advice for taking some kind of action against a healthcare provider (cause harm to those who saved 'mama') for not telling you to use common sense. I have no idea if you and your family were even entitled to be told anything by the hospital staff but the hospital staff did take care of your needs as a caretaker by ordering home health. As I stated, it's home health's job to teach the family or caretakers in the patient's home.
EC

[cbg]

Without a written and signed authorization from your mother, the hospital CANNOT legally give you any medical information about her condition.

[rmet4nzkx]

Considering what OP's mother's prognosis is most likely it is better to get her out of the hospital so she doesn't catch anything else.