Category: Emergency Room Errors

When electronic health records (EHRs) were initially developed, many in the medical community heralded the digitization of patients’ medical records as a significant step toward increasing patient safety. Since then, over 90 percent of hospitals and 80 percent of doctors’ offices have adopted EHR practices. Although electronic health records provide many benefits, including the ability to access […]

The medical malpractice lawsuit of woman whose heart attack went undiagnosed was recently settled for $3.5 million. The victim, a mother of two, died after her heart condition was wrongly diagnosed as pneumonia, which ultimately led to cardiac arrest. No doubt the stakes are high for a missed or misdiagnosed heart attack, as death, health […]

Heart attacks are truly silent killers, in more ways than were previously recognized. Researchers in the U.K. recently investigated the incidence of heart attacks that led to deaths after being “missed” by doctors. So, what did they find? Patients were exhibiting symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting up to one month before […]

Consider this: over 3 million Americans undergo surgery each year in the United States. Some of these procedures are routine, scheduled in advance, with a low risk of complications. Others are emergent, life-saving interventions brought on by sudden, dangerous medical events. Among all surgeries, emergency general surgery (EGS) accounts for 11 percent of admissions and 50 percent […]

It is a terrible question, but one that needs answering: can a doctor be held liable for medical malpractice in New Jersey if he or she fails to recognize that a child is the victim of abuse? According to a recent decision in South Jersey, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Specifically, a medical malpractice claim was brought against […]

Abdominal pain is an extremely common symptom that may be indicative of a wide variety of conditions. In fact, between five and ten percent of the patients who enter emergency rooms cite abdominal pain as one of their symptoms. This can be problematic for patients who suffer from more acute and life-threatening conditions, such as appendicitis, […]

The family of a 13-year-old girl has filed a pediatric malpractice claim against doctors who failed to diagnose a brain tumor, which tragically claimed her life. 13-year-old Molly Banzhoff was suffering from symptoms for months before her death from an undiagnosed brain tumor in May of last year. She was frequently experiencing severe migraines, nausea, […]

During the holiday season, you find it everywhere you go: more people, more congestion, more stress, more exhaustion–and if you are in an emergency room–more mistakes. Hospitals and emergency care centers are always bustling with patients, doctors, and other staff; however, these places become particularly inundated during the holidays. Cold and flu season, heart disease and […]