A trip to the emergency room is often a stressful and overwhelming experience. When medical professionals fail to diagnose your condition correctly, the consequences can be catastrophic. Can you hold the hospital accountable for their mistake?
Misdiagnosis can lead to severe complications, permanent disability or death
A misdiagnosis can have disastrous outcomes for patients. For example, mistaking a severe allergy for a minor skin issue could lead to delayed treatment and life-threatening consequences.
In another scenario, a patient with a heart attack may be misdiagnosed with indigestion. This could result in delayed medical intervention and increased risk of heart damage or even death.
Emergency room errors extend beyond misdiagnosis. Other common mistakes include medication errors, failure to order necessary tests, delayed treatment and improper discharge. Each of these errors can put a patient’s life in peril.
Misdiagnosis falls under medical malpractice
In Florida, medical malpractice laws allow patients to seek compensation when healthcare providers fail to meet the standard of care. A medical negligence claim often requires:
- Establishing a doctor-patient relationship
- Proving the doctor’s diagnosis deviated from the accepted standard of care
- Demonstrating that the misdiagnosis directly caused harm or injury
- Showing measurable damages resulting from the misdiagnosis
Injured patients typically have a 2-year window from the incident or discovery of the injury to file a medical malpractice claim. It is essential to act quickly. The law requires a pre-suit investigation, which means you must notify the hospital about your intent to sue and obtain an expert witness’ certification of a valid claim.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to an emergency room error, do not hesitate to explore your legal options. An attorney with vast experience in medical malpractice lawsuits can help you obtain justice and compensation for the harm you have endured.