Medical negligence that leads to a malpractice case is an event that causes needless injury to a patient. The medical professional becomes guilty of negligence when the work they perform does not meet the expected level of care for the situation. Negligence is not as easy to prove as basic malpractice that involves an incorrect diagnosis or medication, but it is provable. Patients need to stay aware of the negligent acts of the doctors, nurses, and others that care for them and their family members.

#1. Excessive Wait Times

Patients visit the emergency room because they have a need for immediate medical care. If the wait at the hospital becomes too long, it can cause a worsening of an illness or even lead to death.  The media has real-life stories of patients that experience this type of treatment, and the terrifying consequences for some. The wait time could happen in the waiting room, or in a treatment room where the patients sits alone.

#2. Failure of Communication

The failure of a doctor or other medical provider to communicate effectively with their team can cause problems for the patient too. Tests may not take place as quickly as they should. A delay could occur in the administration of medication that could reverse or control a problem. An example is when someone arrives complaining of the symptoms that occur during a stroke. It is possible to reverse the damage from certain types of strokes, but only if they receive medication within a few hours of the start of the medical emergency. A delay could leave the patient permanently disabled.

#3. Not Ordering Screenings

A doctor may ignore the complaints of the diagnosis or hurry someone through because they do not seem sick enough. This type of emergency room negligence could mean that the patient does not receive the blood tests or other screenings that would make it possible for them to receive the correct treatment. The patient may end up needing to return to the ER again for help or amass much larger medical bills because their condition worsened.

#4. Directions Become Lost

A doctor may order testing, supply a diagnosis or recommend a treatment method, but the patient only gets better when the recommendations they suggest become actions. A nurse or other professional may ignore instructions or not pay close enough attention to the directions. The patient may then stay unattended or receive the wrong treatment because of the lack of focus of the medical staff.

#5. Muddling the Instructions

Many patients go home after their visit to the emergency room and need to know how to care for themselves properly. Nurses may incorrectly record instructions or doctors could make mistakes. The instructions may leave out signs and symptoms to watch for, or incorrectly say how to manage the condition. Inadequate descriptions could prevent primary care doctors from performing a complete follow-up.

Medical negligence takes place because of overwhelmed medical facilities, inadequate training or supervision, and sometimes because of complete incompetence. Why the problem occurred does not matter because every patient has the right to reliable and trustworthy medical care. Anyone that feels as if their health suffered because of medical negligence should contact an attorney for a consultation.