Emergency Room Errors Attorney in Dallas, TX

Injured by an ER Mistake? Call Our Medical Malpractice Legal Team!

Injuries and illnesses can arise unexpectedly. While people schedule doctor appointments for checkups, emergencies cannot wait. That is why we go to the emergency room (ER). Given the volume of patients passing through, the ER is inherently chaotic. Doctors and nurses pass from one person to the next, trying to diagnose and treat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate an average of 136.3 million people annually visit the emergency room in the United States. If a hospital is not well staffed or physicians not well trained, serious injuries and wrongful death can occur.

If you were injured because of an emergency room mistake, our Dallas medical malpractice lawyers can help. We have years of experience protecting the rights of victims. We take the time to get to know your case and provide the representation you need! To us, you are more than just a client, you are family.

Call today at (214) 307-6307 or fill out a contact form to schedule a free consultation!

Common Emergency Room Errors

Because of the sheer mass of people vying for medical attention, emergency rooms can be overwhelming. The average doctor is estimated to spend approximately 11 minutes with a patient during a routine visit. With the number of patients emergency room staff must attend to, it is easy to make mistakes and errors.

Common emergency room errors include:

• Misdiagnosis: Misdiagnosis occurs when a healthcare provider incorrectly identifies a patient’s condition or entirely overlooks it. For example, a heart attack may be mistaken for indigestion, leading to delayed or inappropriate treatment. This can result in severe harm, as the real condition progresses untreated.
• Misreading lab and test results: Errors in interpreting diagnostic tools like blood tests, X-rays, or scans can lead to incorrect conclusions about a patient’s health. A missed fracture or abnormal lab result can cause delays in treatment or the wrong care plan. These errors often worsen the patient's condition.
• Judgment errors: Judgment errors involve poor clinical decisions, such as choosing incorrect treatments or not following established protocols. For instance, prescribing the wrong medication or failing to recognize a critical emergency can endanger a patient’s health. Such mistakes can lead to preventable complications or fatalities.
• Patient dumping: Patient dumping occurs when care is denied due to financial reasons or patients are transferred improperly. Uninsured patients may be discharged prematurely or sent to another facility without adequate assessment. This practice is unethical, illegal, and can result in harm to the patient.
• Delayed prognosis or diagnosis: Delays in diagnosing or recognizing the severity of a condition can significantly impact outcomes. For example, postponing treatment for sepsis or internal bleeding may escalate a life-threatening situation. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is critical to prevent serious consequences.
• Ignoring symptoms: Ignoring or dismissing patient symptoms can lead to overlooked critical conditions. For example, attributing chest pain to stress without further investigation might miss a heart attack. This negligence can have severe, potentially fatal outcomes for patients.
• Paramedic and EMT neglect: Neglect by paramedics or EMTs can occur during pre-hospital care, such as improper handling of injuries or delayed transport. Administering the wrong medication or failing to stabilize the patient can worsen their condition. These errors compromise patient outcomes before they even reach the ER.

Such mistakes can lead to severe injuries. Misdiagnosis and wrongly read tests can result in strokes, heart attacks, worsening side effects, and more. If a doctor is not careful, some patient may die because of negligence.

Causes for ER mistakes include:

• Overcrowding: ERs often face an overwhelming number of patients, especially during peak times or in underserved areas. This strain makes it harder for healthcare providers to deliver thorough evaluations, leading to rushed decisions and potential errors.
• Understaffed facilities: A shortage of medical staff, including doctors, nurses, and support personnel, limits the ability to provide adequate care to all patients. Overburdened staff may overlook critical details or fail to respond promptly to emergencies.
• Lack of equipment or resources: Insufficient access to medical equipment, diagnostic tools, or essential supplies can delay or impair proper treatment. For instance, a lack of imaging machines or lab testing kits can result in missed or incorrect diagnoses.
• Not checking patient’s medical history: Failing to review a patient’s medical history, including allergies, prior conditions, or medication use, can lead to inappropriate treatments. Administering a contraindicated drug or missing a pre-existing condition can have life-threatening consequences.
• Fatigue: Healthcare providers in ERs often work long, grueling shifts, leading to exhaustion. Fatigue can impair judgment, focus, and the ability to make critical decisions, increasing the likelihood of mistakes.
• Neglecting patients or making them wait too long: Patients waiting for extended periods without medical attention may experience worsening conditions. Neglect or delays in addressing symptoms can lead to missed opportunities for early intervention in critical cases.
• Lack of training: Patients waiting for extended periods without medical attention may experience worsening conditions. Neglect or delays in addressing symptoms can lead to missed opportunities for early intervention in critical cases.

Do You Have a Case?

In order for a case to hold in court, the plaintiff must show that they sustained serious injuries or their loved one wrongfully died because of an emergency room error. They must also prove that the doctor, medical staff, or hospital was the reason for the damage. If this occurred, you may be eligible to seek compensation for a medical malpractice suit.

Allow our attorneys at Aldous \ Walker help you with your claim today! We understand how painful an ER mistake can be. No two cases are the same. That is why we take the time to get to know you and identify your needs. Our clients are like family and we protect our family. Find out what past family members have said about us.

If you did sustain an injury or a loved one passed away because of an ER doctor’s negligence, contact our lawyers today.