Emergency Room Error Attorneys Serving the Portland-Vancouver and SW Washington Area

At Jane Clark Legal, our experienced medical malpractice attorneys have over 35 years of expertise in handling cases related to medical negligence, specifically focusing on emergency room errors. Our dedicated team of emergency room error attorneys has successfully advised and represented individuals who have suffered avoidable harm due to mistakes made by emergency room physicians, nurses, or staff.

We provide comprehensive legal support for a wide range of emergency room errors, including:

• Failure to timely diagnose and treat a stroke
• Failure to diagnose appendicitis
• Failure to diagnose blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a pulmonary embolism (PE)
• Failure to consult with specialists
• Failure to diagnose infections
• Misinterpretation of imaging studies
• Failure to order lab work
• Failure to correctly interpret blood work
• Failure to diagnose and timely treat fractures
• Communication errors or breakdowns
• Prematurely discharging patients
• Failure to diagnose and treat a heart attack
• Failure to diagnose and treat a bowel obstruction, ileus, or other gastrointestinal issues
• Failure to diagnose and treat pneumonia
• Failure to diagnose and treat meningitis
• Failure to diagnose tumors
• Failure to recommend proper follow-up treatment
• Medication errors
• Failure to order or administer antibiotics
• Delays in performing necessary surgeries
• Failure to diagnose and treat aortic dissection
• Failure to obtain informed consent to treatment

How Emergency Room Errors Occur

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are evaluated in Emergency Rooms, and errors sometimes result in significant injury to patients or death. Emergency Room physicians, nurses, and staff must be vigilant in identifying and treating life-threatening conditions promptly. Failure to recognize critical conditions such as sepsis, pulmonary embolism, or internal bleeding can lead to delayed or inadequate treatment, potentially resulting in serious harm or death.  Prompt identification and treatment of life-threatening conditions are crucial in an Emergency Room. Failure to recognize critical conditions such as sepsis, pulmonary embolism, or internal bleeding can lead to delayed or inadequate treatment, potentially resulting in serious harm or death. Our attorneys possess extensive experience in handling medical malpractice cases related to Emergency Room errors.

Upon arrival at the Emergency Room, patients undergo a series of steps. Triage is the initial process of assessing and prioritizing patients based on the severity of their conditions. Errors in triage can lead to critical conditions being overlooked or patients not receiving timely care.

Following triage, patients are typically examined by an Emergency Room physician who may order medical tests or consultations with specialists to arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan. Unfortunately, errors can occur during this process, constituting a violation of the standard of care.

Examples of Emergency Room Errors

• Infections that rapidly progress or are accompanied by high fever, severe pain, or signs of systemic illness may require emergency care. This could include sepsis, meningitis, or severe skin infections. A failure to timely diagnose an infection can lead to permanent injury or death.
• Lack of effective communication between emergency room staff, including nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, can lead to errors. Miscommunication about patient history, test results, or treatment plans can have detrimental effects on patient care.
• The sudden onset of weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, severe headache, or changes in vision can be signs of a stroke, necessitating emergency medical attention.
• Failure to provide necessary follow-up care or referrals for specialized treatment or consultations can result in delayed or inadequate care for patients with complex or chronic conditions. For example, cancer may be seen on an imaging study; however, the emergency room physician may neglect to inform the patient of the cancerous findings, provide a referral, or order appropriate follow-up treatment.
• Administration of the wrong medication, incorrect dosages, or failure to consider potential drug interactions in the emergency room can result in adverse reactions, allergic reactions, or other complications for the patient.
• Failure to provide timely or appropriate treatment to patients in the emergency room can worsen their condition. This may include delays in administering necessary medications, performing necessary procedures, or providing critical interventions.
• Errors related to improper use of equipment or misinterpretation of the results of diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, or laboratory tests, leading to incorrect diagnoses or treatment decisions.
• Insufficient staffing or inadequate supervision errors can occur due to increased workload, fatigue, or lack of resources, potentially compromising patient care and safety.
• Failure to obtain proper informed consent from patients before administering treatments or procedures in the emergency room can violate the patient’s rights and result in legal and ethical issues.

Emergency Room Error Attorneys Representing Vancouver, Portland, and SW Washington

If you or a family member have been injured due to an Emergency Room error in Oregon or Washington, our attorneys at Jane Clark Legal are here to help. We will gather all necessary evidence, prepare and file required documentation, and act as your voice in settlement negotiations or at trial. Our goal is to prove, through expert testimony, that the medical professional’s mistake was below the standard of care and likely caused the injury or death.

We understand the impact of medical malpractice and will fight to recover compensation for all your losses, including wages, medical treatment costs, and intangible damages such as pain, suffering, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving the death of a loved one, we will seek compensation for your loss, bereavement, and any financial losses resulting from their passing.

We limit the number of cases we take so that we can dedicate all our time, energy, and resources to every aspect of your claim.

We take all medical malpractice claims on a contingency basis. You will only be charged attorney fees if we recover compensation for your losses.

For a free evaluation, send us information about your medical negligence case by completing our free case evaluation form.