Virginia Emergency Room Error Attorney

There is no doubt that one of the most stressful positions for a medical practitioner in a hospital can be found in the emergency room. Even with this stress, the standard of care in U.S. emergency rooms is still exceptionally high when compared to other parts of the world. Each member of an emergency room staff takes pride in this fact; however, cases of medical malpractice do occur when errors are made in emergency rooms. If this has happened to you or a loved one, you should consult with a Virginia emergency room error lawyer to learn more about the law, how it applies to your situation, and the options available to you.

Emergency Room Errors in Virginia

The occurrences of errors in emergency rooms are all too common, yet rarely discussed and hardly ever reported to media outlets. This is the main reason that you seldom hear about instances of these cases on local news channels. The simple fact remains that poorly equipped ERs, understaffed hospitals, and inadequately trained ER staff can lead to serious injuries and fatal mistakes when dealing with patients in an emergency situation. When you show up at your local emergency room you will usually know nothing about the people providing you with care and, in many cases, there is no time to research the reputation of the staff of a particular ER, leaving you to rely on their competence and professionalism, which may be insufficient.

There are a number of ways that malpractice or mistakes can occur in any emergency room. The following list highlights some of the most common emergency room negligence cases that have been handled by Virginia emergency room error lawyers:

• Errors in medication or prescription;
• The failure to properly diagnose situations of a stroke or heart attack in a timely manner;
• Errors in the diagnosis of your situation;
• Errors in the interpreting of MRIs, CTs and x-rays;
• Using unclean or contaminated equipment;
• The discharge of patients that are seriously or critically ill.

According to the American Medical Association, more than 225,000 people die due to medical malpractice related cases each year and almost half of these reported deaths are due to emergency room errors.

Below are more detailed descriptions of some of the most common Virginia emergency room errors:

Failure to give prophylactic antibiotics

An open fracture is a fracture where the bone has actually broken through the patient’s skin. These types of fractures increase the chance of an infection developing. The very best outcome for patients that suffer from this type of fracture is to prevent infection and also ensuring that there is a timely union for the fracture. When prophylactic antibiotics are given, they will decrease the chance of an infection developing and should be administered soon after arriving at the ER.

Failure to treat a perirectal abscess

Diabetic patients can present unique challenges to their health care providers. A perianal or perirectal abscess is a type of pus pool that forms close to the anus and that can cause a good deal of swelling and tenderness, as well as pain when sitting or defecating. These types of infections or abscesses have the tendency to progress quickly and create an extremely serious infection for patients with diabetes. The abscess may also develop into what is referred to as Fournier’s gangrene, which is a type of life threatening infection that has a mortality rate that is reported at 20-30% according to some studies.

Failure to admit unstable patients

It is the responsibility of the ER doctor to stabilize patents that come in and then make appropriate decisions regarding their care. Most emergency room doctors do not have the authority to admit patients to the hospital and must first contact another doctor to actually admit them.

Virginia Emergency Room Error Lawyers Can Help

If you believe that you, or a loved one, have suffered from an emergency room error that has led to an injury, extended hospital stay, loss of wages or other issue, you may be entitled to compensation from the hospital, doctor, and other medical staff that were present during your admittance and treatment. You should take time to find a Virginia emergency room lawyer that understands the relevant laws and how they affect you. With the help of a Virginia ER error attorney, you can take action so the medical facility can provide you with compensation for injuries that could have been avoided if proper procedures were followed. That action can, in turn, lead to the hospital or staff correcting the flawed process or negligent staff, which provides everyone with a safer experience. Contact the emergency room error lawyers at Price Benowitz LLP today to find out what they can do to help you in your fight for civil justice.