Anyone who’s ever needed emergency treatment for an injury, illness, or other sudden health condition can attest that hospital emergency rooms are often overcrowded, understaffed, and extremely hectic.
Considering that people in the United States make nearly 137 million visits to the emergency room each year, the chaotic nature of emergency departments isn’t that surprising.
Hurried doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel sometimes have just seconds or minutes to assess a patient’s condition before moving on to the next. But despite the frantic hustle and bustle of the ER, the medical professionals who work in these stressful environments are still required to provide patients with an acceptable standard of care. When they fail to do so, the consequences for patients can be disastrous—or even deadly. Nurses, doctors, hospitals, and others may potentially be held liable for the injuries and harm that results.
If you suspect you or someone you love was the victim of emergency room medical malpractice in Georgia, here’s what you need to know before taking legal action.
Were You a Victim of Medical Negligence?
Unfortunately, not all bad outcomes in the emergency room can be considered medical malpractice. To have legal grounds for a malpractice lawsuit, the healthcare professional in question must have owed the patient a duty to provide the accepted standard of care—and then breached that duty, resulting in harm to the patient.
If you think you were a victim of medical negligence in the emergency room, it’s essential to:
- See a doctor you trust for an initial diagnosis or a second opinion.
- Consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
- Obtain your medical records and save all documentation from your ER visit.
- Write down everything you remember about your visit to the emergency room and the care you received there.
- Adhere to the doctor’s treatment plan and attend follow-up appointments.
Common Types of Emergency Room Medical Malpractice
Most incidents of medical malpractice that occur in emergency rooms can be grouped into one of the following categories:
- EMT, paramedic, or first responder negligence
- Misdiagnosis
- Failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis
- Medication errors
- Surgical errors
- Failure to order the appropriate diagnostic tests
- Misinterpretation of test results
- Premature release of patients from care
An American Medical Association study found that doctors specializing in emergency medicine are among the physicians most commonly sued for medical malpractice. A study from John Hopkins University noted that diagnostic errors are the mistakes most likely to lead to medical malpractice litigation.
We Can Help You Fight for the Compensation You Deserve
If you suffered medical malpractice in a Georgia emergency room, pursuing a lawsuit against the entities responsible allows you to seek compensation for related medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Do you have questions about a medical malpractice case? Contact Van Sant Law today to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation to discuss the details of your case with a member of our legal team. Don’t wait: the time to file a lawsuit is limited!
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