October 25, 2020
Illinois Workers Comp and Covid-19
ILLINOIS WORK COMP UPDATE CONCERNING CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Effective April 13, 202 …
When you need medical treatment right away, the emergency room is likely your destination. Although ERs can be hectic places, you want to be able to trust that the medical professionals at emergency rooms are providing you with the best care so your health will improve. Tragically, however, this is not always the case, as emergency room errors occur all too often. And, what may be more tragic than the preventable ER mistakes can be their impacts, which can be permanent – if not fatal.
In this blog series, we will point out and discuss some of the most important info to know about emergency room errors. If you believe that you or someone you love has been hurt by ER mistakes or any type of medical malpractice, contact the Mount Vernon malpractice lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. to learn more about your best options for financial recovery.
Fact 1 – Most emergency room errors are caused by human error.
In fact, a study published in the September 2009 BMC Emergency Medicine online journal reported that, in about 60 percent of cases involving emergency room errors, the root cause of the mistake was some type of human error. What this means is that between 1 and 2 out of every 3 instances of emergency room errors could have been prevented if the medical professionals (or others) involved had been more careful and diligent when diagnosing and treating ER patients.
Fact 2 – Diagnostic errors are among the most common types of emergency room errors made.
In particular, diagnostic errors reportedly make up about 37 percent of all emergency room errors (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Specifically, diagnostic errors in emergency rooms can include:
- Failing to diagnose a condition or ailment when there is sufficient information to do so
- Misdiagnosing a condition.
Some studies have also reported that, when it comes to diagnostic mistakes and emergency room errors, the most frequently misdiagnosed conditions are heart attacks and strokes, particularly in patients who are younger than 50 years. This may be one of the scariest aspects of emergency room errors, as diagnostic mistakes regarding heart attacks and strokes can result in:
- Significant and dangerous delays in treatment
- Permanent impacts to people’s health
- Potentially life-threatening complications.
For some more important facts and info about emergency room errors and malpractice, be sure to look for the second and third parts of this blog series that will be published soon!
Mount Vernon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C.
Have you or a loved one been hurt by emergency room errors or any type of medical negligence? If so, the experienced and trusted Mount Vernon medical malpractice lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. are ready to stand up for your rights. Since 1950, we have been providing the highest quality legal services and representation to our clients.
If you are ready to learn more about your best legal options and how we can help you, contact us by calling (888) 896-9381 or by emailing us using the form at the upper right-hand side of the page. We can provide you with a free, thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward.
