If you or someone you love has been the victim of emergency room error, you may not even realize that medical malpractice was involved. The circumstances that lead to an emergency room visit, and the chaotic atmosphere often encountered in emergency departments, can lead to confusion about what really happened and why. You may have even been told that the outcome was unavoidable. But do not be fooled, emergency room errors can constitute medical malpractice.
Emergency Room Errors
Examples of common emergency room errors include:
- Delayed screening
- Delayed diagnosis
- Delayed treatment
- Failure to fully evaluate patient
- Failure to monitor patient
- Failure to fully treat patient
- Patient dumping
- Unsanitary conditions
- Misdiagnosis
- Laboratory error
- Misread test results
- Surgical error
- Medication errors
- Releasing a patient too soon
- Failure to inform patient of a dangerous medical condition or need for follow up upon release
- Releasing a patient without the proper information and instructions about his condition
Conditions Commonly Misdiagnosed in the Emergency Room
Conditions which are commonly misdiagnosed in the emergency room include:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Infections, including meningitis
- Brain injury
- Pregnancy complications, including ectopic pregnancy
- Broken bones and fractures
Harm Caused by Emergency Room Error
The consequences of emergency room error can include:
- Worsening of the original health condition or injury
- Extended recovery time
- A second, more harmful occurrence of the original misdiagnosed medical event, such as a heart attack or stroke
- Additional injuries or complications due to delayed or improper treatment
- Infection
- Adverse drug interaction or allergic reaction to a medication
- Medication overdose
- Brain injury
- Organ damage or loss
- Unnecessary amputation
- Paralysis
- Permanent disability
- Severe pain
- Death
If you or someone you love has been the victim of emergency room error, you may have legal recourse. Please contact us to be connected to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in your state.
