Medical errors can occur in any type of outpatient or inpatient setting. Emergency rooms are a health care setting where medical errors can occur.
There are several theories as to why medical errors are more common in emergency rooms than other health care settings. Overcrowding is one possible reason. Regardless of the cause, it is important to remain cautious while you or a loved one are receiving treatment in an emergency room. Emergency room medical errors may include:
- Diagnostic errors. Diagnostic errors are the most common type of medical mistake. In an emergency room, you could receive a missed, delayed or incorrect diagnosis. This may happen when hospital staff make errors during patient examinations or while conducting lab tests. Diagnostic errors can sometimes be more dangerous in an emergency room because patients may be suffering from acute conditions that require immediate treatment (such as a heart attack).
- Medication errors. Hospital staff may provide you with the incorrect medication or the wrong dosage. Staff may also administer the medication incorrectly. Depending on the type of medication involved and other factors, you could suffer an overdose or your health condition may remain untreated.
- Lack of supervision. Some emergency room patients require close supervision. For instance, some patients may have an increased risk of falling. Patients may suffer injuries if staff do not provide close supervision. In addition, doctors in their residency should be supervised by superiors to reduce the chances of medical mistakes.
- Emergency rooms contain deadly germs, including superbugs. Staff members can harm patients if they do not sterilize medical equipment or other hospital surfaces.
Filing a Lawsuit for Emergency Room Malpractice
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit for an emergency room error. However, your situation would need to meet specific criteria.
Our Philadelphia emergency room malpractice attorneys can help you determine whether it would be possible to file a lawsuit. To schedule a free consultation with an emergency room malpractice attorney at Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck, P.C., call (215) 585-2814 or use our online case review form.
