The holiday season is a season for accidents and other health emergencies. Emergency rooms are often overwhelmed, making deadly errors even more likely. However, that is no excuse for inadequate care. If you have been harmed by emergency room error or lost a loved one to emergency room malpractice, you have the right to take legal action, no matter what time of year or how busy the ER was.
Common Emergency Room Errors
Common emergency room errors include:
- Patient dumping – refusing to treat or failing to fully treat a patient because they cannot provide proof of insurance or a presumed inability to pay
- Misdiagnosis – including failure to diagnose heart attack, stroke, or another life-threatening health event
- Medication error – administration of the wrong medication or wrong dose, or a medication that is inappropriate for the current condition or medical history such as allergies
- Delayed treatment – ER patients are often left unattended for very long periods of time, sometimes prior to evaluation
- Improper discharge – releasing a patient too soon or without the proper instructions
Protecting Yourself
A visit to the emergency room is something you cannot anticipate, but planning ahead can help you avoid being the victim of emergency room malpractice.
Keep your medical records, including a list of the medications you are taking, handy so that you or someone else can take them to the ER in case of an emergency. Make sure a friend or family member knows where to find them if you are unconscious.
Keep your health insurance card on you at all times.
Designate a family member to advocate for you in the event that you are incapacitated.
Do not leave the emergency room without a formal discharge meeting. Make sure you fully understand the discharge instructions and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
If you believe that you have been the victim of emergency room error, our Tampa Medical Malpractice accident attorneys are here to help.
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