Emergency rooms are fast-paced and stressful environments for medical professionals and patients alike. Often, emergency rooms are characterized by a consistently high volume of patients and chronic staff shortages. These and other circumstances increase the risk that emergency room errors and emergency room negligence will occur. In fact, a study conducted by Harvard University found that emergency rooms have the highest instance of negligence than any other hospital department.

While emergency rooms are often busy and chaotic places, this does not excuse professional negligence or other errors in patient care. Mistakes that occur in an emergency room—where patients are often in need of critical, immediate and appropriate care—can often lead to serious injuries, illness or even death.

When a patient is injured because an emergency room doctor, nurse or other staff member fails to provide reasonable care, this can be considered medical malpractice. Victims of medical malpractice and their loved ones may be eligible to seek compensation for their losses and suffering through a lawsuit. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries or died because of emergency room negligence, it is important to contact an experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer at our firm to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Common Causes of Emergency Room Negligence

Emergency room staff members are trained in making an initial assessment of a patient’s condition in order to determine the order of care that will be provided to patients who are waiting. If a medical professional fails to appropriately assess a patient’s condition, this may lead to a delay in necessary treatment. Failure to fully evaluate and promptly treat a patient’s condition is typically considered emergency room negligence. If a patient suffers harm because of this delay in treatment, they or their loved ones may be able to file a legal claim to seek damages.

Diagnostic errors are the most common types of emergency room errors. Diagnostic mistakes are often made by physicians, though other medical professionals may also be responsible. These types of errors include:

• Failure to order the right tests
• Failure to appropriately follow-up after receiving test or lab results
• Failure to create an appropriate follow-up treatment plan
• Failure to obtain a complete medical history from a patient in order to correctly assess their condition
• Failure to account for all symptoms reported by a patient
• Failure to perform thorough physical examinations

These emergency room errors can lead to a misdiagnosis, a failure to diagnose, or a delayed diagnosis, all of which may cause subsequent harm to a patient. According to a 2002 study conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, five to ten percent of all autopsy results indicate a diagnostic error that, if avoided, might have changed the patient’s outcome.

In addition to diagnostic errors in emergency rooms, other types of negligence can include:

• Discharging a patient instead of admitting him/her
• IV error
• Contaminated blood transfusions
• Medication error
• Failure to monitor a patient’s condition
• Failure to refer to a specialist
• Surgical error
• Wrong treatment delivered

If you or a loved one has suffered injury or lost their lives due to emergency room negligence, speak with a qualified Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney to learn more about your rights and options. We are dedicated to helping you and your family receive the compensation you deserve for your losses and suffering. To learn more about emergency room negligence, contact a Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney today.