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Emergency room errors happen with increasing frequency – and the results can be disastrous for patients in need of urgent care. The unfortunate reality in Virginia is that several hospitals have been cited as having higher fatality rates among heart failure patients than the national average. That's a troubling statistic that may be attributable to inadequate ER care.
At Marks & Harrison, our attorneys understand that medical care in an emergency room facility demands urgent action – and that our clients who have been hurt by negligent or inappropriate ER treatment deserve justice.
If you have suffered injury or illness as a result of an emergency room error, contact our medical malpractice lawyers today at 1-800-283-2202 for a free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation, or submit a Case Evaluation online. Our lawyers will analyze your case and advise whether you are entitled to compensation. If we don't think you need an attorney, we will tell you right away. We have offices throughout Virginia, including Richmond, Hopewell, Petersburg, Charlottesville, Tappahannock, Louisa and Staunton.
Emergency rooms are prone to medical error because of the very service they provide. Quick decision-making, coupled with an often busy waiting room and inadequate staff, create an atmosphere in which mistakes can occur at any moment. Some of the most common errors are also the most dangerous, including:
- Doctors mistaking heart attacks for heartburn and releasing patients with a prescription for antacids instead of performing comprehensive examinations.
- ER personnel failing to recognize heart attack symptoms, allowing patients with urgent medical symptoms to sit in the waiting area. Doctors refer to the first 60 minutes after a person has suffered a heart attack as the "golden hour" during which treatment is most likely to be life-saving. Heart attack victims who wait for treatment have a much lower survival rate than those who immediately receive medical attention.
- Non-physician medical staff misdiagnosing serious medical conditions. In a crowded ER, nurses and other staff may assess a patient's symptoms – but their training may not prepare them to correctly distinguish between common ailments and potentially fatal conditions.
- Doctors failing to order or follow up on tests. Amid the rush of a busy ER, doctors don't always run routine tests, or they may forget to follow up with other staff to make certain the test is scheduled and properly interpreted.
- Medical staff failing to follow standard procedures. Hospitals have specific processes in place for handling medications, dealing with certain medical conditions and maintaining hygiene standards – but in urgent situations, important steps may be missed.
If you or a loved one suffered injury as a result of emergency room error, you have the right to bring legal action against the medical facility. However, hospitals retain extensive legal counsel of their own, as well as hefty insurance policies managed by representatives whose job is to minimize or deny payments for your injuries. You need an attorney experienced in Virginia medical malpractice law who will prepare a case with your best interests in mind.
At Marks & Harrison, we place our clients’ interests above all else. Our lawyers will analyze your case and advise whether you are entitled to compensation. Contact us today by calling toll free at 1-800-283-2202. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also submit a Case Evaluation online.
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