If you go on a cruise, you’re going to spend an extensive amount of time at sea. There’s always a chance that you could be injured or become ill while you’re there. You may need medical assistance.
There are typically medical centers or doctors’ offices on cruise ships. But it’s crucial to remember that this is not the same as being able to go to the hospital. There aren’t nearly as many staff members, and the facility is much smaller, without many of the various types of technology and medical devices that would be used in a hospital.
Additionally, the focus for these medical professionals is often different. They’re far more likely to treat someone who slipped on wet stairs and sprained their ankle, or who is feeling extremely seasick, perhaps due to an extensive sunburn. They do have first aid equipment, medication and official training, but you should never equate it with a full-fledged hospital.
What complications can this cause?
The biggest issue here is that some serious injuries may not be treatable on the cruise ship. Say that someone has a significant fall accident and suffers a spinal cord injury or a traumatic brain injury. Maybe someone has internal bleeding and they need medical attention immediately so they can get surgery.
These types of things are going to take time on the cruise ship. The medical staff may be able to stabilize a patient, but it can still take hours or days to get them back to shore where they can go to a real hospital.
This is one of the reasons that injuries on cruise ships can have such a significant impact on someone’s health and their life. Those who have been injured must know what legal options they have to seek financial compensation.