Emergency Room Errors
HOLDING NEGLIGENT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ACCOUNTABLE in virginia
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 145 million emergency room visits every year, of which over 42 million are injury-related.
Going to the emergency room (ER) means that you have to trust complete strangers to save your life when there is a need for emergency medical services.
Although a trip to the ER does not guarantee a favorable result, some emergency room errors are unnecessary and preventable. In other words, these errors are considered medical malpractice and may entitle the injured patient to seek compensation for the resulting emotional, physical, and financial damages and losses.
In times like these, it is paramount to seek legal help from a Fairfax emergency room malpractice attorney in order to pursue the compensation you deserve. Our Virginia-based law firm with a focus on medical malpractice, Jones & Rostant, PC, handles all types of malpractice cases related to emergency room errors.
Types of Emergency Room Errors That Constitute Malpractice
Causes of emergency room injuries vary from one case to another, but the most common errors by emergency room personnel include:
Not reviewing the patient’s medical history
Failure to properly examine the patient’s history
Inadequate performance of a physical examination
Failure to perform tests to rule out possible conditions and illnesses
Misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, or delayed diagnosis
Refusing to treat or diagnose
Delayed testing or treatment
Failure to carefully consider alternative, less risky and less invasive treatment options
Failure to consult other medical specialists in a timely manner
Patient dumping
Inadequately monitoring a patient during the ER visit
Administering improper dosages or inappropriate medications
Releasing the patient without completing the treatment
Making laboratory errors
Failure to ensure a sanitary environment
But what about cases when a patient does not receive medical treatment during the ER visit and suffers harm or dies as a result? What if the emergency department refuses to treat a patient?
Even though the patient does not receive any medical treatment, the practice known as “patient dumping” is considered medical malpractice. Emergency rooms sometimes “dump” patients who cannot prove their ability to afford a treatment.
Injuries Caused by Emergency Room Errors
Injuries that occur as a result of emergency room malpractice depend on the type of error that was made by ER personnel. Some of the most common include:
Paralysis or death
Severe cardiac damage
Infection
Damage to internal organs
Loss of a limb
Who Can Be Sued for ER Malpractice?
There may be multiple responsible parties who can be held liable for committing emergency room malpractice:
Nurses
Surgeons
Anesthesiologists
Doctors
ER staff members
The hospital
Manufacturers of medical equipment or medication
Pharmaceutical companies
Government entities
Call our Virginia emergency room errors lawsuit lawyers at (703) 352-0522 for a free case review.
Speak with a Fairfax emergency room errors attorney at Jones & Rostant, PC, to determine whether your injury was the result of malpractice on the part of ER staff members or other medical professionals in the hospital. Call at (703) 352-0522 or go to our contact us page.