Our St. Louis personal injury attorney at The Gogel Law Firm knows that emergency room visits increase in the summer months in Missouri due to a combination of factors associated with warmer weather and outdoor activities.
As temperatures rise, more people engage in recreational activities such as swimming, hiking, biking, and sports. These activities, while enjoyable, can also lead to accidents and injuries. Moreover, summer events and gatherings often involve barbecues and fireworks, which can increase the risk of burns and other injuries.
The hot weather can cause heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children. Furthermore, the prevalence of insects and outdoor allergens can lead to more allergic reactions and insect bites requiring medical attention.
Unfortunately, increased emergency room visits inherently lead to a higher risk of emergency room negligence due to the strain on medical staff and resources. As patient volumes surge, healthcare professionals may become overworked and fatigued, increasing the likelihood of diagnosis, treatment, and management errors.
If your condition worsened because of emergency room negligence, our dedicated medical malpractice attorney at The Gogel Law Firm wants to help you understand your legal rights and options to hold the liable party—or combination of parties—accountable.
What are the Most Common Types of Emergency Room Negligence in Missouri?
Overcrowded ERs can result in longer wait times, rushed assessments, and inadequate monitoring, compromising the quality of care. Additionally, the pressure to handle a high volume of cases can lead to communication breakdowns among medical staff, further heightening the risk of mistakes.
This environment of heightened stress and resource constraints makes it more challenging to maintain the standard of care, resulting in a greater potential for negligence, including:
- Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: Failing to identify a patient’s condition or delay diagnosis correctly can lead to inappropriate or delayed treatment, worsening the patient’s condition.
- Medication Errors: Administering the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, or failing to account for potential drug interactions can cause severe harm or even death.
- Failure to Order Necessary Tests: Neglecting to order appropriate diagnostic tests or misinterpreting test results can fail to diagnose critical conditions.
- Inadequate Patient Monitoring: Insufficient monitoring of patients, especially those in critical condition, can lead to missed signs of deterioration or complications.
- Improper Discharge: Releasing patients prematurely or without proper instructions and follow-up care can lead to worsened conditions and the need for readmission.
- Surgical Errors: Mistakes during emergency surgical procedures, such as operating on the wrong site or leaving surgical instruments inside the patient, can have severe consequences.
- Failure to Take a Complete Medical History: Not obtaining a thorough medical history can result in overlooked allergies, pre-existing conditions, or contraindications, compromising patient safety.
- Communication Failures: Poor communication among ER staff or between healthcare providers and patients can lead to misunderstandings, errors in treatment, and inadequate care.
Contact Our St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney Today
These types of negligence can have serious, sometimes life-threatening, repercussions for patients. If you believe you have a medical malpractice claim due to emergency room negligence in Missouri, it is crucial that you seek legal advice. Contact our St. Louis medical malpractice attorney today to review your case by calling (314)-370-8173 or online to schedule a free consultation.
We will evaluate your case, provide you with a clear understanding of your legal rights and options, and ensure that you meet any deadlines that will allow you to pursue the best outcome for your unique claim. We are here to support you every step of the way.
