What Are My Options For Legal Action Against an Improper Emergency Room Diagnosis?

 Posted on December 23, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

People visit emergency rooms in Illinois under dire circumstances. Rarely are patients thinking calmly or carefully - instead, they rely on the nurses, doctors, and intake professionals to make expert judgments about the necessary care so whatever medical emergency is going on can be treated quickly and correctly. While most emergency rooms provide this level of care, not every medical professional or hospital does; sometimes emergency rooms make mistakes, which can lead to serious, even life-threatening consequences. If you went to an emergency room and did not get the care you needed, you may have a case for medical malpractice. Read on to learn more. 

Common Emergency Room Errors

Emergency rooms are busy places and many errors are possible at any time. The most common errors include, but are not limited to: 

• Wrong or delayed diagnosis or treatment - If patients get the wrong diagnosis, are not diagnosed quickly, or are not treated properly after a diagnosis, they can face serious complications and even death. 

• Documenting errors - Hospitals must take careful records to ensure that patients do not receive duplicate treatment and that staff can provide continuing care, even during shift changeovers. Failure to do so can result in dangerous double treatments or lack of treatment. 

• Laboratory errors - If samples are not collected, sent, or interpreted correctly, laboratory testing does not benefit a patient and instead could hurt them badly. 

• Medication mistakes - Medicine can be very powerful and it needs to be administered carefully, with close supervision. If a patient receives the wrong dose, or is given a medicine to which they are allergic, the consequences can be dangerous. 

• Procedure errors - If a doctor comes to perform an emergency procedure on a patient and identifies the wrong area or even the wrong patient, patients may lose an organ or limb or suffer some other grotesque consequence. 

Can I Sue a Hospital? 

Depending on the case, the hospital may be sued, the doctors may be sued, and the supporting staff like nurses and physician’s assistance may also be sued. To bring a lawsuit against any organization or person, you will need to prove that you were owed a duty of care, that the person or organization breached the duty of care, and that you suffered injury as a result of the actions of the person or organization. 

Contact a Springfield, IL Emergency Room Malpractice Lawyer

If you received a mistaken diagnosis or were denied care which you had a right to receive, schedule a consultation with a Champaign, IL emergency room malpractice attorney with Kanoski Bresney. Our consultations are free, no-pressure meetings for you to explore your options, meet our team, and find out how we can help you get the compensation to which you are entitled. Call us today at 888-826-8682. 

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1525&ChapterID=35