Emergency rooms are designed to take care of our immediate medical emergencies, filled with healthcare professionals who can stabilize us and ensure we then receive proper care. We know that medical emergencies are scary, but we trust the people in the ER. We can count on them being competent and expect them to treat each patient with a high level of care.
But what happens if the doctors, nurses, and aides in the emergency room end up causing us harm?
Medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. How many of those mistakes happen in the emergency room?
If you suspect that you have been harmed because of the treatment you received in the ER, you may need a Camden emergency room malpractice attorney. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, we will get to the bottom of your case.
Often, you will find that emergency rooms are busy and overcrowded. Not only will this lead to long wait times, but it can also mean that medical professionals make errors. If a doctor is rushed, they may fail to perform the necessary tests or assessments for each patient. This can lead to a misdiagnosis and early discharge.
If an ER is understaffed, it does not matter how crowded it is. If there are not enough doctors and nurses to handle the amount of patients present, errors will be made. Johns Hopkins researchers have found that diagnostic errors account for the largest fraction of medical malpractice claims. They lead to the most severe patient harm out of all medical mistakes.
Pressure from hospital administration to clear out ER beds may also lead to doctors and nurses to rush their care. In medicine, anything that is unnecessarily hurried along can lead to harmful results for the patients.
Overworked ER staff can lead to exhaustion. It is not uncommon to see doctors and nurses work more than 24 hours in a row. Without proper rest, healthcare professionals are much more likely to make mistakes.
In the ER, the pace is often very fast. This is often necessary to save lives, but it can also lead to careless errors. If a doctor or nurse is rushed and makes a medication error, they could make the patient’s situation worse.
We know that most errors made by medical professionals are not intentional, but that does not mean that they should be excused. Any mistakes should be brought to light so that the people responsible are held accountable.
Nobody wants to experience a medical emergency, but when we do, we can usually count on the healthcare professionals in the emergency room to get us stabilized. We know that there will be times when doctors and nurses are unable to fix every medical problem, but we also do not expect them to make our situation worse.
If a negligent medical professional has caused you harm, you may need an emergency room attorney in Camden. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.
