Thousands Die in Emergency Rooms from Medical Malpractice
Posted on Nov 23, 2008 12:30pm PST
According to a 2007 statistic released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a staggering 115 million people receive treatment in emergency rooms in America each year. And, 225,000 of the 115 million receiving treatment die from
medical malpractice (Journal of the American Medical Association). Aside from medical malpractice, approximately half of the fatalities can be attributed to emergency room errors.
The reports indicate that malpractice and errors occur because emergency rooms are so hectic and busy. Additionally, medical staff working in emergency rooms nationwide have to work long hours, which can open the door for lethal errors. Medical malpractice in emergency rooms commonly results from:
- incorrect diagnosis/
misdiagnosis
- lack of diagnosis/treatment
- delay of necessary treatment due to emergency room overpopulation
- prescription/
medication errors
- diagnostic test omissions
- failure to seek medical advice from specialists
According to a study released by Health Grades, Inc., approximate 20-40% of patients in emergency rooms are misdiagnosed by the health professionals treating them. If the mistakes made by medical professionals are serious enough, the patient can suffer long-term harm, or even
wrongful death.
If you or a loved one has suffered from medical malpractice in an emergency room, click here to find a
skilled medical malpractice lawyer!