An unexpected illness or injury may require a trip to the emergency room. While at the ER, you expect that you will get the best care possible. After all, the doctors are trained to handle emergency situations.
However, this is not always the case. Doctors are not perfect. They can make mistakes and these mistakes can be catastrophic for patients. They can suffer worsened conditions, infections, pain, and even death.
These cases are complicated. The hospital will try to blame you for your injuries. The insurance companies may refuse to pay up. There may be multiple parties at fault. Get the help you need from a Baltimore emergency room error lawyer from Furman | Honick Law.
What Causes Emergency Room Errors?
There are many reasons why emergency room errors occur. They include:
- Failure to diagnose. This is the leading cause of emergency room malpractice in the United States. It’s a serious issue because when a patient is misdiagnosed, they won’t receive the medical treatment they need. Some patients are even discharged without getting medical care at all. This can cause a patient to get worse and even die.
- Poor treatment. Medical care is rushed in an emergency room, so patients are not always getting adequate care. Medical procedures may get botched and the treatment may be inadequate, causing a patient’s condition to worsen and put them in serious danger.
- Delayed treatment. Delays are common concerns in emergency rooms. Some patients must wait several hours to even see a doctor. This can result in serious complications.
- Inadequate staffing. When there aren’t enough doctors and nurses available in the ER, things can get backed up quickly. The ER can get crowded very quickly, resulting in long wait times and delayed treatment.
- Wrong medication. It’s possible that the ER doctor may give you the wrong medication for your medical issue. Perhaps the names of the drugs got switched around or maybe you were given medication for a different condition. It’s possible that you were given a medication that you are allergic to or that has adverse side effects.
- Failure to monitor. Some patients need to be monitored, especially after an emergency medical procedure. When a doctor does not monitor a patient, they can suffer serious health complications.
- Emergency departments have many staff members that may be in and out at certain times of the day. With staff changing and many patients coming in, good communication is critical. In fact, it can be a matter of life and death, so medical staff need to communicate often.
Contact Furman | Honick Law Today
We expect prompt treatment in the emergency room, but there are often delays, wrong medications, and missed diagnoses, all which can cause even more harm to patients.
If you have been the victim of an emergency room error, you need the right help on your side.
The team at Furman | Honick Law can assist you so you get full and fair compensation. Contact an experienced Baltimore emergency room error lawyer today. To schedule a free consultation, fill out the online form or call (410) 844-6000.