No one wants to go to the emergency room. That’s because the only reason for a trip there is in the name “emergency.” It means you’ve suffered an injury or have a medical ailment that requires immediate care.
A trip to the emergency room also means that you’re putting your trust in strangers to provide you with a standard of medical care to help with your crisis.
The majority of patients who are treated in emergency rooms don’t encounter any problems.
There might be instances where the bills are exorbitant or the outcome of a diagnosis is not what they were hoping for, but for the most part, emergency rooms provide quality care.
Unfortunately, there are several instances in which emergency room errors occur, resulting in harm to patients. In those situations, you might be dealing with medical malpractice.
That’s when you need to enlist the services of an experienced medical malpractice lawyer like you’ll find at the Prince Law Firm.
We have helped numerous clients secure compensation against medical professionals and facilities. These types of cases are inherently complex and require the skills of an attorney who understands what it takes to achieve a successful outcome.
How Common Are Emergency Room Errors?
NBC News recently reported that at least one in 20 patients experiences some type of medical mistake in the healthcare system. That translates to around 1.3 million people being injured and at least one person dying as a result of those errors each day.
As you are aware, an emergency room is a high-pressure environment where patients are treated based on the severity of their injury or illness. It is also important to note that patients in an ER do not have one-on-one care. In other words, one doctor could be attending to several patients simultaneously and moving between them at a rapid pace.
Understanding the common emergency room errors can help you avoid them. If you’ve been involved in an ER error scenario, your claim needs to detail exactly what happened.
Here are the most common emergency room errors:
Diagnostic Errors
When a patient enters the ER, they first undergo triage to assess the severity of their condition. Those with immediate life-threatening conditions are given priority. However, every patient goes through a form of differential diagnosis. That is where symptoms are present that could relate to similar ailments. For example, a panic attack can often present as a heart attack.
If a patient is misdiagnosed, it can lead to further harm. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality published a report that found an estimated 7.4 million patients in the U.S. experience diagnostic errors annually in ERs. Of that number, 2.6 million diagnostic errors result in serious harm.
Treatment Errors
A diagnostic error is just the start of a potential cascade of mistakes that can impact a patient’s care. When there is a wrong diagnosis, it can lead to a treatment error, such as any one or all of the following:
- Medication errors
- Procedural errors
- Restraint errors
- Delays in treatment
Medication errors are especially common. These can include providing a patient with the wrong medication altogether, an incorrect dosage, or failing to recognize harmful side effects based on the patient’s medical history. These errors can cause significant harm, ranging from adverse reactions to life-threatening complications.
Communication Errors
Effective communication among ER staff is vital for providing proper patient care.
That communication begins when the patient arrives, and their initial ailment is assessed, along with a medical history provided by either the patient or a family member. That information needs to be passed to the nurses and physicians in the trauma center so they can make a proper diagnosis.
Effective communication also occurs when a doctor diagnoses a condition and prescribes a treatment. If that treatment is misunderstood, it can lead to harm.
A breakdown in the communication chain can be a type of medical malpractice.
Errors in Radiology and the Laboratory
Tests are a crucial part of ER care. Those tests must be accurately administered and analyzed to provide proper care. A wrong test, a delay in getting the results, or mislabeling specimens can lead to a misdiagnosis.
Dealing with an Emergency Room Error
If you or a family member were the victim of an emergency room error, it is important to speak with the Prince Law Firm. We understand the complexities of these types of claims.
They need to be thoroughly investigated and supported by independent medical experts.
Our experience helping other clients in these situations provides us with a unique insight into how to move forward with seeking accountability. Our support and guidance begin at the first free consultation. Call to schedule your talk today.
We’re ready to listen.
