Understanding Hospital Negligence in New York: What the Albany Medical Center Nurse Strike Means for Patient Safety
Welcome to another episode of the Spa City Law Show. I’m Scott Peterson, attorney at D’Orazio Peterson. On this show, we discuss how the law affects everyday people and offer guidance, tips, and insights to help you better understand your legal rights—especially in healthcare-related cases.
Today’s topic was sparked by a recent article in the Albany Times Union about nurses at Albany Medical Center considering a walkout due to chronic understaffing at the hospital. A follow-up article confirmed—they did, in fact, walk out.
What caught my attention wasn’t just the walkout itself, but the powerful message behind it: Nurses are deeply concerned about patient safety. They believe that inadequate staffing is putting lives at risk.
As personal injury attorneys in New York, we unfortunately see the results of this kind of negligence all too often—particularly in cases involving hospital errors or malpractice. Many of these issues stem from healthcare workers being overworked and rushed. When staff are stretched too thin, they’re more likely to miss critical details, cut corners, or make serious mistakes.
Some common examples we’ve handled include:
- Surgical instruments or sponges left inside patients after procedures
- Patients falling off operating tables due to lack of supervision
- Delayed diagnoses or failure to diagnose entirely
- Heating pads left on too long, causing burns and injury
These are not just horror stories—they’re real cases we’ve taken on, right here in New York.
When nurses speak out publicly about these problems, it’s often a sign that things are reaching a breaking point. If patient safety is at risk due to hospital understaffing, that’s not just a personnel issue—it’s a legal one. Hospitals have a legal duty to provide care that meets an acceptable standard. When they fail to do that—whether by cutting staff, overworking employees, or ignoring red flags—they can be held liable for any resulting harm.
If you or a loved one has been harmed in a hospital setting in New York—whether through a surgical mistake, lack of care, or any form of medical negligence—it’s important to know your rights. Contacting an attorney doesn’t always mean filing a lawsuit. There are other steps we can take to help protect your interests and hold healthcare providers accountable.
Ultimately, hospitals and healthcare facilities in New York need to understand that cutting corners to save costs should never come at the expense of patient care. If they fail in that duty, they must be held responsible.
If you have questions about hospital negligence, or if something similar has happened to you or a loved one, don’t hesitate to reach out. At D’Orazio Peterson, we’re here to help you understand your options and take the right steps forward.