Emergency room error:
A common cause of death or serious injury.
At Branch Law Firm® in New Mexico our attorneys have the experience and the resources to determine whether emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and emergency room doctors and nurses provided a professional standard of care to a patient. If not, then the emergency room error was medical malpractice.
If you would like to discuss an emergency room with a lawyer please contact our Albuquerque office and arrange a free consultation.
An emergency room is designed to be the doorway to medical care and diagnosis is the key to quality. A patient arriving at the ER is often first assessed by a triage nurse trained to distinguish minor treatable conditions (lacerations, stomach flu, simple fractures) from those requiring immediate attention (stroke, heart attack, a closed head injury that could indicate a serious concussion). Next an emergency room physician performs a thorough examination and determines whether to treat and discharge the patient, provide initial treatment and admit the patient to the hospital for more treatment or observation, or refer the patient to a specialist.
If the emergency room doctor does not take the time for a thorough exam or does not have the proper training and experience, there may be serious consequences to the patient – failure to diagnose a treatable condition or a misdiagnosis that leads to inappropriate care. Our attorneys have extensive experience in medical malpractice claims resulting from emergency room accidents and errors.
We represented the family of a patient was told by the ER doctor to go home and see a dentist about a painful lump on the jaw. The lump in fact was actually a blocked carotid artery, and the delay in treatment was catastrophic. Another client arrived at the emergency room with symptoms of appendicitis – which were overlooked. The misdiagnosis and delay in treatment resulted in rupture, sepsis, and death.
If you would like to discuss an emergency room error and resulting claim for death or serious personal injury with a lawyer please call 1-800-828-4529 or e-mail our Albuquerque office for a free consultation.
