ER Malpractice in Columbia, South Carolina

Medical Malpractice in the Emergency Room

Emergency rooms are notoriously busy - sometimes even chaotic - places. Given the nature of the environment, the chances of mistakes or oversight are high, and unfortunately when errors do occur, the consequences can be devastating for the patient. In some cases, the patient will suffer injury or even death on the scene, while in others the patient may be given a drug or an assurance that "nothing is wrong," only to return home and suffer a major medical event or die from a condition that should have been handled or prevented.

When a patient suffers as a result of the negligent acts or omissions of emergency room staff, the patient or his or her family members may have grounds to sue for medical malpractice. Look to our Columbia injury lawyer today to pursue a valid claim.

Examples of Emergency Room Malpractice

One of the most important activities in an emergency room is "triage." Triage refers to the process of screening incoming patients for their symptoms and sorting them according to the severity of their injuries or illnesses. It is a method of prioritizing patients to ensure that doctors will treat those who are most at risk first, and mistakes in triage can result in severe injury or death to patients. Failure to make correct judgments in triage is only one of the many things that can go wrong in an emergency room.

Causes of ER Malpractice

The staffs of emergency rooms are often overworked and subjected to great amounts of stress on a daily basis. Some are often even attacked by patients. A large percentage of doctors in the ER are residents or medical school students who are completing their education by getting first-time experience in treating patients. These factors can all contribute to the incidence of injury and wrongful death in emergency rooms, but none of them is a valid excuse. We take pride in holding doctors and hospitals accountable for negligence, and we are ready to take immediate action on your case.