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4 Common Examples Of ER Malpractice
Cassandra Stone
Any doctor can be accused of malpractice. However, the rush and bustle of ER rooms make them a possible risk for many types of mistakes and negligence. If you would like to know more, check out these four common examples of ER malpractice.
1. Medication Errors
Medication errors include:
- Giving the wrong patient medication
- Giving the wrong medication to a patient
- Giving the wrong dose of medication
- Giving doses at the wrong times
Depending on the medication, this can lead to severe or life-threatening issues. If the ER doctor prescribes you a prescription for use at home, they may also get in trouble if they offer the wrong dose or medication. In addition, the instructions and information should be clearly attached to the prescription.
2. Missed or Incorrect Diagnosis
About 6 percent of Americans who visit the ER are misdiagnosed. Unfortunately, some of the most common misdiagnosed conditions are also life-threatening or possibly life-altering, including stroke, heart attack, aortic dissection, spinal cord compression, and venous thromboembolism.
Missing a diagnosis can drastically increase the risk of death or the condition worsening and harming other parts of the body. In other cases, the doctor may misdiagnose you. If this happens, you could start treatments you don't need while ignoring the real issue.
3. Test Interpretation Errors
When you go to the ER, expect a lot of tests, such as:
- Blood count
- ECG/EKG
- Chemistry profile
- Imaging
- Urine analysis
Unfortunately, these tests can be misinterpreted. A test interpretation error may cause the doctor to miss an important health concern. For example, a doctor may miss a blemish on your chest X-ray that turns out to be lung cancer. It may also lead to unnecessary treatments or additional tests.
4. Releasing Patients Too Early
Ideally, patients come in, get help, and are released. However, if a patient is released too early, the ER could be held liable. Some doctors may release you too early because they missed an issue, but since ERs are busy, they may be in too much of a rush to get you out. In addition, some doctors may release patients who need to be admitted to the hospital for various reasons.
The ER is a great place when you need emergency help, but the staff are busy and can rush patients too much. If you believe you've been the victim of malpractice, it's time to act.
For more information, contact an ER malpractice attorney today.
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