Medical Malpractice Cases Involving the ER
People often hold medical professionals to extremely high standards, but they are only human and are capable of making mistakes. Although medical professionals are not expected to be perfect, they can be held liable for negligent medical care. A medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed if medical professionals fail to provide care that meets the “accepted standard.”
Because of its chaotic atmosphere, the emergency room is a place where many medical errors occur. Medical malpractice lawyers at the Tawwater Law Firm can help individuals in Oklahoma pursue financial compensation for injuries and financial losses related to medical malpractice in the ER.
Defining Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice laws give individuals the opportunity to hold medical professionals liable for damages stemming from negligent medical care. Under the definition of medical malpractice, medical professionals can be sued if they fail to provide the “accepted” standard of care. But what exactly does accepted standard of care mean?
The accepted standard of care is the degree of care that would be provided by another similarly trained medical professional in the same situation. This definition allows medical professionals to make reasonable mistakes, especially in high pressure situations, such as those that often arise in the ER. However, if an error is blatantly negligent, or if better care would have been provided by an equally trained medical professional, that falls under the definition of medical malpractice.
Common Mistakes Made in the ER
As stated, the emergency room is a busy and stressful environment. The ER often sees a high volume of patients, and medical professionals must diagnose and provide treatment in a rather short timeframe. As a result, mistakes are fairly common. Some of the most common mistakes made in ERs across Oklahoma include:
· Failure to review the patient’s medical records
· Failure to diagnose, or misdiagnosis
· Medication errors
· Miscommunication between medical professionals
· Failure to make accurate notes and/or update medical records
· Surgical errors
· Inadequately monitoring a patient during their ER stay
· Releasing a patient before their treatment is complete
While some mistakes may be expected, others are unacceptable. If a medical professional is negligent in their care, and a patient suffers, they should be held liable for damages.
Proving Medical Malpractice
As stated, medical errors are only classified as medical malpractice if they are the result of negligent medical care. To prove medical malpractice for our Oklahoma clients, the lawyers at the Tawwater Law Firm depend on different types of evidence.
The most important forms of evidence in a medical malpractice suit are medical records documenting the patient’s condition (and resulting damages) and expert witness testimony. Our legal team works closely with medical experts who can provide testimony to demonstrate that the errors made are ones that would not have been made by other medical professionals presented with the same set of circumstances.
Compensation for Damages
If our clients have been victims of medical malpractice, we will help them fight for financial compensation for resulting damages. The types of damages that may be awarded in a medical malpractice lawsuit include:
· Medical expenses
· The cost of ongoing or future medical care
· Lost wages
· Pain and suffering
Contact Us
If you believe you have been the victim of medical malpractice, the lawyers at the Tawwater Law Firm can let you know if you have the grounds to file a lawsuit. Send us a message at your earliest convenience, or call (405) 607-1400, to find out more about your legal options.
