When you go to the emergency room in New Orleans, it is because you have a serious medical need to address immediately. Whether it’s a grave illness, complications from a surgery or a traumatic injury, when you need help, you trust the staff at your local ER. You believe that the doctors, nurses and technicians who take care of you will provide you with a certain standard of care.
It can be devastating in many ways when you do not get the care you need from an ER doctor or staff member. For many patients, they simply end up back in the ER later because their condition is worse or they have increased pain levels. If you did not get the right type of care at your ER or mistakes were made, it could indicate medical malpractice. You do not have to suffer the implications of this alone.
What should happen
Patients who go to an ER need medical care quickly. Long wait times and sitting in an exam room for an extended period of time can lead to medical complications and patient frustration. You should receive care within an appropriate amount of time, especially if your condition is obviously dire. Doctors should take the time to listen to your concerns and run the right tests.
When these things don’t happen, patients often leave without the right diagnosis or the wrong diagnosis. They may leave without a medication that could help them or a prescription that could have a dangerous interaction with something else they are taking. ER mistakes are serious, and patients often pay the price.
Why do mistakes happen?
ER mistakes can happen for a variety of reasons. Studies find that the following are the most common reasons why patients suffer harm or end up coming back because they didn’t get the right help the first time:
- Error in identifying the medical problem
- Error processing the information provided by patient or test results
- Untrained staff or providers who are not sufficiently knowledgeable
- Lack of information gathered from patients or medical testing
If you believe that you suffered harm because of negligent medical care from your emergency room, you could have grounds for a civil claim. An assessment of your case with an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you understand the legal options available to you. Recourse through the civil justice system allows you to pursue appropriate damages and hold liable parties accountable.