If you want to find out more about emergency room errors, it’s vital to stay educated on what common ER mistakes are and what you can do to prevent them. If you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice or simply want to stay protected, below are some common ER mistakes to keep an eye out for.
Wrong Medications
In 2018 alone, over 130 million people visited American emergency rooms. This means that, in addition to providing attentive care and accurate diagnosis, medical professionals were also responsible for doling out medication when necessary to millions of people.
Unfortunately, wrong medications are far too common in emergency rooms. This can include giving the wrong medication, prescribing a medication without considering potential allergies or drug interactions, or simply giving an incorrect dosage.
Misdiagnoses
Misdiagnosis is one of the most dangerous mistakes that can occur in an ER setting. The consequences of misdiagnosing any kind of condition can be severe and even deadly, since patients may lack access to timely treatment or have unnecessary treatments that cause additional harm or side effects. It’s important for anyone who has been misdiagnosed in an ER setting to seek legal advice and take action.
Incorrect Treatments
In addition to misdiagnosis, incorrect treatments can occur in an ER setting, where medical professionals may jump to conclusions or overlook other potential causes for a patient’s condition.
This can include picking treatment options that are overly aggressive or do not consider the patient’s overall health, as well as administering treatments without consulting the patient first. Taking action against incorrect treatments is important if any harm has been done due to negligence.
Delayed Treatment
Emergency rooms are designed to provide quick and reliable care when it comes to urgent matters. However, this doesn’t always happen. Delays in treatment can be due to overworked staff, lack of resources, or simply mismanagement of patients’ needs. Delayed treatment can have serious consequences, so if you feel your condition was not given the attention it deserved, it’s important to seek legal advice and take action.
No Follow-Up Care
Emergency room visits often require follow-up care once the patient is released. However, this isn’t always taken into consideration. When an ER visit ends without a plan for continuing care, this can result in a lack of proper rehabilitation or management of symptoms.
It’s essential to make sure that any necessary follow-up care is established before leaving the emergency room to ensure that patients continue to receive the best possible treatments and outcomes.
The Bottom Line
These are only some of the most common mistakes made in emergency rooms. Unfortunately, there are many more that can occur.
It’s essential to stay informed of your rights and take action if any negligence has been done so that you can receive the justice and compensation you deserve.
By being aware of these common ER mistakes, it is possible to stay protected and minimize the risk of medical malpractice.
All patients should be given appropriate care and treatment when visiting an emergency room, regardless of the situation or time constraints.
If you have experienced any form of medical negligence at an ER, don’t hesitate to seek legal advice in order to get the justice and compensation you need.
