Emergency Room Error Lawyer in San Francisco

80+ Years of Combined Experience Defending the Injured in California

Going to the emergency room is not only stressful but also a painful and frightening ordeal. We are hurting, confused, and in need of help as we turn to the doctors and nurses who are trained to handle these serious situations. On some occasions, however, the staff fails the patient and ultimately creates further harm by deviating from the standard procedure or being negligent in their treatment.

Unfortunately, it is a sad truth that if an emergency room doctor or nurse had just taken one more step, ordered one more test or called in a specialist to consult, further injury or even a wrongful death could have possibly been avoided.

What is an Emergency Room?

An emergency room (ER), also known as an emergency department (ED), is a medical facility within a hospital that specializes in the treatment of acute and life-threatening medical conditions. These conditions often require immediate medical attention and intervention to prevent further deterioration or complications.

Emergency rooms are staffed with healthcare professionals trained in emergency medicine, including physicians, nurses, and other support staff. They are equipped with advanced medical technology and resources to handle a wide range of medical emergencies, such as trauma, heart attacks, strokes, severe injuries, and sudden illnesses.

Patients typically arrive at the emergency room either by ambulance, through referrals from other healthcare providers, or by their own means. Upon arrival, patients are triaged, which means they are assessed based on the severity of their condition. Those with the most critical conditions are prioritized for immediate treatment.

Emergency rooms provide 24/7 care, ensuring that medical attention is available at any time, day or night. They serve as a crucial component of the healthcare system, providing rapid assessment, stabilization, and treatment for patients in critical need. Additionally, emergency rooms often serve as a gateway to other specialized medical services within the hospital, as patients may be admitted for further care or transferred to other departments as needed.

Common Types of Emergency Room Errors

An emergency room error refers to a mistake or oversight that occurs during the provision of medical care in an emergency department, leading to potential harm or negative outcomes for the patient. These errors can occur due to various factors, including miscommunication, system failures, inadequate training, fatigue, or negligence.

Common types of emergency room errors include:

• Misdiagnosis: This occurs when a healthcare provider fails to accurately diagnose the patient's condition, leading to incorrect treatment or delayed treatment of the actual problem. Misdiagnosis can result in serious complications or worsening of the patient's condition.
• Medication errors: These errors involve mistakes in prescribing, administering, or monitoring medications in the emergency room. Examples include giving the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, drug interactions, or administration errors such as IV infiltration.
• Delayed treatment: This occurs when there is a delay in providing appropriate medical care to the patient, either due to overcrowding, understaffing, or failure to prioritize patients based on the severity of their condition. Delayed treatment can exacerbate medical issues and increase the risk of complications.
• Communication errors: These errors occur when there is a breakdown in communication between healthcare providers, patients, and other staff members. This can lead to misunderstandings, missed information, or failure to convey critical details, which may impact patient care and safety.
• Procedural errors: These errors involve mistakes during medical procedures performed in the emergency room, such as intubation, insertion of IV lines, or suturing wounds. Procedural errors can result in injuries, infections, or other complications for the patient.
• Equipment failures: Malfunctioning or improperly used medical equipment in the emergency room can lead to errors in diagnosis or treatment. Examples include faulty monitors, defibrillators, or imaging equipment that produce inaccurate results or fail to detect critical issues.
• Documentation errors: Incomplete or inaccurate documentation of patient information, medical history, assessments, and treatment plans can lead to errors in decision-making and continuity of care. Poor documentation can also affect communication among healthcare providers and increase the risk of medical errors.
• Discharge errors: These errors occur when patients are prematurely discharged from the emergency room without proper evaluation or follow-up care, leading to unresolved medical issues or complications.

Your Rights in the Emergency Room

If you are in an emergency room, you have a right to ask to be evaluated by a doctor. Some emergency rooms assign nurses or physician assistants to see patients putting you at risk of misdiagnosis. In addition, federal law dictates that you are medically screened in an emergency room regardless of your ability to pay. Emergency rooms are often chaotic and a misplaced medical record or medication error can lead to disaster. Our firm can aggressively fight to protect your rights in emergency room error cases.

Legal Help for Victims of Emergency Room Malpractice

If you or a loved one were negatively impacted by an emergency room error, you should contact a skilled and experienced emergency room malpractice lawyer right away. An error in these circumstances can lead to serious complications and expenses, including additional medical treatments and lost wages during extended recovery.

Bostwick & Peterson is one of the leading medical malpractice law firms in the country, and one of our passionate and dedicated attorneys may be able to help you. Our firm has access to some of the best doctors in the country and we will thoroughly investigate your case to help you get the answers that you deserve. We will also work closely with you to hold the hospital an ER personnel to account and fight for the fullest level of compensation.