When an emergency room patient is catastrophically injured or dies because of improper treatment, you should talk with a medical malpractice attorney. You should demand accountability from those responsible for a devastating injury that occured from negligence in the ER. To learn more now, call a local medical malpractice law firm today.
An emergency room is typically a very chaotic environment in which life and death decisions are commonplace. This is no excuse for any healthcare professional working in the ER from adhering to the medical standards of care. An ER is not a first come first serve medical facility; it works on the basis of triage. This involves assessing the patient’s condition upon their entry, and assigning him or her a higher or lower priority based on how severe or life threatening the issue is. When the staff are abiding by the rules of triage, mistakes are rare and keeps a patient with a life threatening condition from having to wait several hours before seeing a doctor. That being said, errors can and do occur. When the triage system fails, you may be able to file a claim with a medical malpractice lawyer.
Your hired medical malpractice attorney should have the skills, passion, and resources to see your case through the end while ensuring your future is protected. If you’ve suffered undue harm because of a medical error in an emergency room, call a trusted firm today.
Medical Errors Made in the ER
One of the biggest forms of medical malpractice in the ER is misdiagnosis at the triage station or treatment room. Other serious errors might include:
- Delayed treatment
- Substandard treatment
- Medication errors
- Failing to obtain a patient’s complete medical history
- Failing to monitor a patient while waiting in the ER or after being admitted
- Releasing a patient before they should be let go from the hospital
- Failure to obtain informed consent
- Failing to explain a treatment, procedure, risks, or side effects
Wrongful Death in the ER
Many patients are brought to the ER with life threatening injuries. Some of these such as internal bleeding, a head injury, or scalp laceration might not immediately be visible by the ER staff, causing them to focus on the injuries that can be seen. There might also be an occasion when improper training, treatment, or skills give way to substandard treatment. If a death results in either circumstance, a may be termed as wrongful death.
A medical malpractice lawyer can substantiate a wrongful death claim by examining medical and hospital records, the healthcare staff who treated the patient, summoning expert witnesses, and so forth. If a standard of care was breached, and caused the patient to die, the family members may pursue compensation.
Why Hiring a Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help
Lawyers who proudly serve victims and their families throughout your area are likely going to do the same for you. They should have extensive experience in advocating for people who have been improperly treated in an emergency room, and should have recovered millions in damages. What happened to you, should matter to them. Call a medical malpractice lawyer now for a free case review.