4 Questions About Medical Malpractice In An Emergency Room Environment

Were you a victim of medical malpractice in a hospital, and have questions about what to do? This situation is more common than you think, especially when you're brought into the emergency room. Here are some questions you likely have about this unique situation.

Can Malpractice Happen In The Waiting Room?

Mistakes can happen before you even set foot in the emergency room. Sometimes patients do not go through the triage process properly, resulting in a misdiagnosis of their condition from the moment they walk into the hospital. This can result in a condition getting worse as they sit in the waiting room and wait for assistance, all because someone didn't understand what their problem was and put them as a low priority. 

Does The Nature Of Emergency Care Lead To More Mistakes?

An emergency room can be quite hectic when it is busy. A doctor may forget to prescribe you an important medication needed to treat your injury because they were working too fast, or not take the time to fully understand what your problem is and not treat the problem you went to the hospital for. Understaffing of an emergency room can lead to doctors and nurses acting quickly, and sometimes making mistakes along the way because of it.

Can Not Having Insurance Lead To Medical Malpractice?

Hospitals are required to see any patient that comes through their doors, and it doesn't matter if they have insurance or not. If you do not have insurance, it is possible that you are treated differently from patients that do have insurance. For example, a hospital may be less willing to run a test in fear that you won't be able to pay for it, which can cause somebody to not get the proper diagnosis that they need to treat an injury. While hospitals should treat all people equally, it's a sad truth that your insurance status could cause the staff to do things differently.

When Should You Hire A Lawyer?

You can't file a medical malpractice lawsuit just because something bad happened. You'll want to hire a lawyer when a mistake at the hospital directly caused some sort of bad outcome for yourself. Consider meeting with a lawyer for a consultation to explain your case, since they will be able to tell if there was a deviation from the standard of care these professionals exhibited, and advise you on if you have a solid case on your hands. Contact Bennett Bigelow & Leedom PS for more.