A hospital emergency room can be a chaotic place when emotions run high. Due to the immense urgency and pressure to find solutions, emergency providers could fall short at the expense of patients.
Aside from emergency physicians, those who receive malpractice claims are from internal medicine, family practice, radiology and general surgery. This is according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine.
A high-risk medical location
The study looked into the malpractice experiences of more than 6,000 adult patients who received emergency and urgent care. They mentioned these mistakes:
- Misdiagnosis: Wrong diagnosis may cause no harm. But it can also lead to irreparable damage. Delays in treatment and needless procedures might cause complications. In other instances, they could lead to death.
- Improper performance: This happens when a physician’s act causes the incorrect performance of a procedure. It poses risks to patients who need instant attention. And it has more severe consequences in complex surgeries.
- Failure to monitor or supervise cases: This may lead to the worsening of a medical condition. Also, unsupervised patients may suffer permanent injuries or face death.
- Medication errors: Giving wrong medications may cause misuse or overdose. Other errors include giving expired medications and storing them incorrectly.
No medical misadventure is another common error. This means that even if there is no medical mishap, patients still have legal basis to file claims. The usual reasons are problems with consent and laboratory methods. Other issues involve faulty equipment and wrong hospital records.
Recovering damages and your health
Death was the most common claim outcome. Meanwhile, other claims were for injuries that ranged from grave to insignificant. Whether your injury was major or negligible, medical malpractice is not acceptable.
You would require legal advice to try to right the wrongs. You would also need the support to recover not just the damages but more importantly, your overall health.
