The emergency room, in almost any hospital, is a high-pressure, fast-paced environment. However, the emergency room staff of doctors and nurses has a duty to patients to provide quality medical care and to avoid mistakes that may cause harm to patients.
If you have been the victim of an emergency room error and have suffered harm as a result, you may have the right to be compensated for your injuries and losses. At Drake & Collopy, P.C., our experienced Chicago emergency room error lawyers are dedicated to helping our clients recover the compensation they deserve after being the victim of medical malpractice. The first step is to get in touch with us to discuss your situation.
Related Article: ELEMENTS OF A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
The Most Common Errors in Chicago Emergency Rooms
Some of the most common emergency room errors include:
- Improper diagnosis: This can be done by a doctor, nurse, physician assistant, or anyone else who provides care in the ER.
- Symptom misjudgment: Sometimes, the same symptoms can appear for multiple issues, which can cause confusion and other issues.
- Delayed diagnosis: An example would be heart attack symptoms being mistaken for something minor, such as heartburn.
- Test-related mistakes: This includes both incorrectly read tests and unordered tests.
- Patient monitoring: If there is inadequate staff for treating patients or monitoring symptoms, issues may arise.
- Procedures and conditions: Medical errors often arise from systems and procedures not being followed.
Medical Malpractice Claims for Emergency Room Errors
When an emergency room staff member (doctor, nurse, etc.) makes a mistake, the victim may suffer devastating and, in some cases, fatal injuries. Medical malpractice is defined as any act or omission by a medical professional that deviates from the standard of care and causes the patient harm. It is often difficult to establish whether the standard of care was violated in a given situation and whether that violation was the legal cause of the harm suffered by the patient. Accordingly, it is almost always necessary to employ medical experts who can review the facts and medical records to make those determinations in each case.
Related Article: WHAT RIGHTS DO YOU HAVE AFTER A MEDICAL MISDIAGNOSIS?
Timing Considerations When Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim
There are strict deadlines that limit the amount of time to file medical malpractice claims. In Illinois, the statute of limitations requires a patient to file a medical malpractice lawsuit within two years of the date of discovery. The date of discovery is the date the patient discovers or should have discovered, his injuries or the date the patient discovers or should have discovered, that the injuries were the result of medical malpractice. In addition to the two-year statute of limitations, Illinois law prevents a patient from filing a claim more than four years from the date of the medical treatment that caused the injuries, regardless of the discovery date. There certain are exceptions to the statute of limitations, however. If you suspect that you have been the victim of medical malpractice, contact us as soon as possible to preserve your legal rights.
Related Article: 7 COMMON HOSPITAL ERRORS
Consult Our Legal Team for Help with Your Case
If you believe you have been the victim of an emergency room error, our experienced attorneys are ready to help. Our emergency room error lawyers help victims in the Chicago area and throughout Illinois. Contact us without delay so we can investigate your case and, if we determine the case has merit, get to work right away to help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to. You can count on our experienced personal injury legal team to fight aggressively on your behalf.
