If you recently had a bad experience in an emergency room (ER) in Albuquerque – one that injured you or a loved one – don’t hesitate to contact The Fine Law Firm for a free legal consultation. We are experienced medical malpractice attorneys who can advocate for your rights throughout the legal process. We care about patient rights in New Mexico and will help you fight for the outcome that you deserve. Call (505) 889-3463 today for a free consultation.
What Are Examples of Emergency Room Errors?
Emergency rooms are hubs where injured and ill people go when they require immediate medical care. They can be chaotic and busy places, but staff members have a responsibility to stay organized to properly treat patients.
You are already under enough stress when you visit an emergency room in Albuquerque. You do not need the added concern that emergency room staff members are behaving carelessly. Unfortunately, not every ER properly treats its patients or meets the accepted standards of care in the medical industry. This can lead to preventable patient injuries, illnesses and deaths through emergency room errors, such as:
- Medical misdiagnosis
- Medication mistake
- Refusing to treat a patient who can’t pay
- Conducting the wrong test
- Misinterpreting test results
- Delayed treatment/failure to treat
- Improper intubation of a patient
- Improper blood transfusion
- Issues with sanitation or overcrowding
- Communication errors
- Treating the wrong patient
If an emergency room does not have the correct protocols in place to function smoothly, even when busy, it can lead to oversights and lapses in patient care. The clerks, doctors and nurses may rush through their jobs and overlook important details. They may miss the symptoms of a serious problem, for example, such as a stroke or heart attack, or misdiagnose a patient and send them home without treatment. In other cases, rushed or careless physicians may administer the wrong type or dosage of medication or make another error that compromises the patient’s health or safety.
When Is an ER Error Medical Malpractice?
Any type of careless act or omission in an emergency room in Albuquerque can cause an injury to a patient. However, not all mistakes constitute medical malpractice in New Mexico. You will only have grounds to file a civil lawsuit if there is proof of malpractice in the ER. Medical malpractice refers to a health care provider failing to provide appropriate care or taking appropriate actions when treating a patient, resulting in injury to the patient.
You may have grounds to file a medical malpractice claim against an emergency room in Albuquerque if you or your lawyer can prove four main elements:
- The first is that a doctor-patient relationship existed between you and the defendant at the time of the alleged malpractice.
- The second is that the defendant violated a duty of care owed to you, such as a duty to provide proper patient care.
- The third is that the breach of duty caused the injury or illness that you are claiming.
- The fourth is that you suffered compensable losses because of the malpractice.
With evidence that supports these four elements, you may be eligible for financial compensation from one or more defendants for your losses, such as medical care, pain and suffering, lost wages, and legal fees. Discuss the value of your emergency room error claim with an attorney today.
Contact Our Attorneys for a Free Consultation in Albuquerque
If you or a loved one was injured by an emergency room error, contact our Albuquerque law team as soon as possible at The Fine Law Firm. We will listen carefully to your complaint, analyze the details of the case and let you know if you have grounds for a lawsuit. If so, we may offer to represent you to take a stand against an ER for malpractice. Discuss in more detail how we can help you today. Contact us to begin with a free case evaluation.