Common Emergency Room Errors
Emergency rooms are full of constantly changing medical emergencies and serious medical problems which must be dealt with promptly and efficiently in order to make room for the next crop of injuries. Emergency rooms are busy, hectic, and full of people going every which way. This mass of confusion makes it easier for accidents and errors to occur.
The doctors, nurses, and support staff of an emergency room are highly trained individuals. They have been trained to deal with unpredictable and changing medical problems that all need to be handled quickly. They are responsible for carrying out a hospital’s duty to maintain the safest possible conditions.
Some common emergency room errors caused by a variety of types of hospital negligence and error include:
- Failure to staff an emergency room adequately each shift
- Insufficient or inadequate training
- Inadequate record keeping
- Poor patient tracking procedures
- Unsanitary conditions
- Inadequate facilities
Each action taken by a doctor and the support staff of an emergency room needs to be correct because it can be a difference between long-term injury, death, and life. Unfortunately, there are a number of common errors that occur in emergency rooms. Some of the most common errors include:
- Failure to evaluate a patient fully
- Failure to monitor
- Failure to treat
- Failure to diagnose, missing diagnoses, and delayed diagnosis
- Medication errors
When emergency room errors occur, whether they are the fault of the hospital or the doctor, negative things occur. Permanent injuries and even death can unfortunately take place.
Contact a Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured by an emergency room mistake, contact the Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 610-667-7511.