Negligence in Emergency Rooms
While most minor illnesses or injuries can be treated at home or can be dealt with during non-emergency medical appointments, individuals who are suffering from serious illness or severe injuries may be forced to visit an emergency room for urgent care. Persons have a reasonable expectation of attention and treatment when they go to the emergency room, and failure on the part of hospital administrators, doctors, or staff members may result in intensified health problems or even death.
Hospital administrators have a responsibility to properly hire and staff their emergency rooms to be able to handle busy times and the demands of a hectic office. In many cases, ER workers may be forced to deal with busy evenings and patients who need urgent care. If administrators fail to properly screen employees, hire experienced workers, or provide adequate training for all employees, patients may suffer as a result. In addition, emergency rooms should be properly staffed to handle the influx of patients, day and night.
Administrative staff members are a vital part of the ER team. It is important for staff members to be trained to handle emergency situations, as well as to keep track of patients waiting for care. Forgetting about a patient or failing to notify a doctor about a severely injured patient may result in further injury or illness to the individual in question. Workers should make sure to stay focused, organized, and not fail to keep track of persons in the ER.
Doctors who work in the emergency room setting are often put in the position of having to work under high pressure, especially if it is a particularly busy time. They may be forced to diagnose, treat, and release patients in a short amount of time in order to help others in need, but it is essential that doctors give each patient responsible and accurate care. Common mistakes that doctors may make in ER settings include:
- Misdiagnosis/late diagnosis
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Prescription errors -
Surgical errors -
Failure to accurately read patient charts -
Medication conflicts or known allergy conflicts -
Failure to monitor patients
If you or someone you love has suffered injury due to negligence on the part of an ER staff member or doctor, you may be eligible for compensation for present and future medical expenses, pain, suffering, and other damages. For more information on emergency room negligence, visit the website of the New Jersey medical malpractice professionals of Levinson & Axelrod.
Joseph Devine
