The atmosphere in hospital emergency rooms in St. Augustine is busy and sometimes very tense. That atmosphere, however, does not excuse sub-standard medical treatment.
Although medical errors are generally more common in emergency rooms than in doctor’s offices and other medical settings, doctors and other medical professionals are expected to provide proper and timely medical attention. When they fail in their obligation to provide such service, a dedicated personal injury attorney could work to hold them liable for the consequences.
Because those who visit the emergency room are often in acute need of medical care, delays or mistakes can cause serious harm. If you or a loved one suffered injury due to a mistake or delay in the emergency room, you should consider contacting a St. Augustine emergency room errors lawyer to find out whether you may be entitled to compensation.
Diagnostic Errors as Grounds for Medical Malpractice Suits
Although situations in the emergency room often force doctors to make decisions in a more hurried manner than those in other medical fields, ER doctors and personnel are still required to exercise the same level of care as physicians in similar emergency room settings.
Unfortunately, diagnostic errors are quite common in emergency rooms. These include situations where there is either an unreasonable delay in diagnosing a patient’s condition, or where a patient’s condition is misdiagnosed entirely.
Does a Delayed Diagnosis Constitute Emergency Room Malpractice?
A delayed diagnosis also delays treatment, which can have deadly consequences or cause irreversible damage. A misdiagnosis, on the other hand, may result in a patient receiving treatment which causes additional harm, as well as delays in the patient receiving proper treatment.
Diagnostic errors are common with conditions such as appendicitis, strokes, heart attacks, pancreatitis, and pulmonary embolisms. A St. Augustine emergency room errors attorney could help a prospective plaintiff determine whether their doctor’s mistake amounts to compensable medical malpractice.
Emergency Room Malpractice Based on Medication Errors
Medication errors are also regrettably frequent in emergency rooms. Patients may receive the wrong dosage of medication or the wrong medication entirely. In other situations, they may be given medication that was supposed to go to another patient or that interacts adversely with current substances in their system.
Whatever the reason, medication errors can cause serious harm, make injuries worse, or even lead to a patient’s death. For this reason, emergency room errors lawyers in St. Augustine would be happy to help with cases based on medication errors just as much as those based on diagnostic ones.
What Types of Compensation Are Available in an Emergency Room Error Case?
A mistake or unreasonable delay in treatment can cause serious harm to a patient, who depending on the circumstances may suffer long-term consequences. While no amount of money can restore a patient’s health, financial compensation can provide assistance with future medical needs, as well as past and future expenses such as doctor’s bills, lost wages, reduced future income, and extra assistance needed around the home.
In addition, a patient suffering harm from emergency room errors caused by the negligence of attending medical professionals may also be entitled to compensation for non-economic damages. These damages cover intangible harm such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment that do not have a quantifiable monetary value. A St. Augustine emergency room errors lawyer could help someone pursue the damages that they deserve.
Consulting with a St. Augustine Emergency Room Error Attorney
The Florida statute of limitations requires that most claims for emergency room error must be filed within two years of the date of injury. However, that does not mean someone who believes that errors in the emergency room caused additional harm should wait two years to take action.
The availability of evidence decreases as time passes. Moreover, a patient may unwittingly take an action or make a statement that could jeopardize their claim for compensation. So, if you suffered harm due to mistakes or delays in an emergency room, schedule a consultation with a St. Augustine emergency room errors lawyer as soon as possible, so that an experienced attorney could evaluate your case and explain your options for recovery.
