Emergency Room Errors: Louisville, Kentucky, Lawyers

Amidst the hectic, high-pressure confines of a hospital emergency room, an error of the slightest degree can have damaging or deadly results. The most disastrous consequences come about when doctors fail to appreciate just how serious their patients' injuries are, and so they miss the opportunity to administer treatments that could cure them or even save their lives.

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While some emergency room errors may not be actionable, there are also serious repercussions for acts of hospital negligence. Patients entrust ER doctors with their bodies, well-being and lives. Because of that, the doctor has a duty — outlined under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) — to always behave responsibly and uphold a professional standard of care.

Errors Occur When Doctors Fail to Evaluate Patients

There are a number of different ways by which an emergency room error can occur. But most frequently, the doctor simply fails to properly evaluate the patient, resulting in misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose dangerous conditions. For example, if fetal distress or appendicitis is overlooked, the doctor may have missed a chance to prevent serious injuries.

In a classic example, if a patient comes to a doctor complaining of back pain, the doctor who doesn't check for an aortic aneurysm is gambling with the patient's life. In other cases, doctors simply don't act quickly enough to deliver the necessary medical treatment.

If an emergency room error has caused irreparable harm to yourself or a loved one, then you have the right to be compensated. To schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney at Sitlinger, McGlincy, Theiler & Karem, call 502-410-3847 or contact us online.