Medical emergencies are nothing to bat an eye at. After all, many people suffer medical emergencies that require trips to the hospital. While these departments are great as they can help mitigate harm, due to their hectic nature, mistakes can happen. If you were injured while seeking medical attention, you may need the assistance of a Houston, Texas emergency room errors lawyer to help you navigate the process of pursuing justice. Keep reading to learn more about what errors occur and how they happen.
What Are the Most Common Emergency Room Mistakes?
When you go to the emergency room, the doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring patients receive adequate care. Those who work in this department are required to be quick on their feet and make informed decisions about treatment. Unfortunately, delayed and missed diagnoses are common, which can lead to further harm. Failure to diagnose an issue can lead to slowed care. Similarly, a misdiagnosis may lead to severe damage, as the doctors will treat a problem that does not exist while the actual harm goes untreated.
Another common issue you may face in the emergency room occurs when you don’t receive the proper medication. Unfortunately, as emergency departments can be hectic, there are many people in and out who are focusing on many tasks at once. When you get medication, it is essential for medical professionals to ensure they administer the correct dose and make a note of it in your chart. Failure to do so can result in life-threatening conditions.
What Are My Legal Options if I’ve Been Injured while Seeking Emergency Treatment?
When injured after visiting an emergency room, you must understand what your legal options are. The first thing you should know is the Texas statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases. If you wish to pursue legal action for the injuries you’ve faced, you generally have two years from the date of the incident to file a claim.
You’ll also want to ensure you keep all documents and records about the treatment you’ve received while in the care of those in the emergency department. This includes bills, your patient chart, and any other documents that reference your care.
Finally, you’ll want to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney to help you pursue compensation. Not only can you hold the medical professionals who directly treated you responsible for the harm you’ve suffered, but you may also be able to hold the hospital liable. If the hospital fails to provide the proper resources and training for their employees, they may also be responsible for your injuries.
If you’ve been hurt because of negligence while seeking emergency medical care, Davis & Davis can help. Our dedicated legal team has the experience you need to help you through this process. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you through these unfortunate circumstances.
