Medical malpractice lawsuits frequently arise out of medical mistakes and errors in a hospital emergency department. In many of these cases, a patient with a true medical emergency is either misdiagnosed or sent home with a life-threatening illness or condition. When a preventable medical error occurs in the emergency room and a patient suffers significant injury or harm, it can give rise to a medical negligence lawsuit.
The most common emergency room errors that provide a basis for a medical malpractice lawsuit include:
- Failing to diagnose an infection, like meningitis
- Failing to diagnose appendicitis or bowel obstructions
- Failing to diagnose a heart attack
- Failing to order x-rays, CT Scans, MRIs, or other radiology tests
- Failing to consult with a specialist
- Failing to order necessary tests
- Failing to treat any condition that was previously properly diagnosed
- Failing to admit a patient to the hospital
- Discharging a patient before a proper medical workup
Frequently, emergency room malpractice cases involve mistakes related to the treatment and diagnosis of medical problems with children and infants. Many emergency room physicians simply do not have the necessary training in pediatric medicine and as a result, fail to properly treat childhood illnesses. This can result in permanent injury and harm to a child.
In cases in which a patient dies due to a medical mistake in an Ohio emergency department, the surviving family members can file an Ohio Wrongful Death Lawsuit. In such a case, the family members sue the hospital for damages resulting from the death. Damages include the loss of society and companionship of the family member, the loss of wages and services by the deceased, payment of funeral expenses, and other damages under Ohio law.
To determine whether you or someone you know has the legal basis to file an Ohio emergency room medical malpractice lawsuit, you should contact our office immediately to discuss your case and order your free copy of “The Ultimate Guide to Medical Malpractice in Ohio.” There are strict time deadlines for filing cases and if you miss that deadline your case will be barred forever. Fill out our contact form or call our medical malpractice lawyers at (800) 637-8170 to get started on your case.
