ER physicians in Florida are susceptible to committing errors due to the great number of patients they need to properly take care of. Therefore, severe health problems may be minimized or left unidentified, causing disastrous consequences and even death. Victims of emergency room malpractice can hold not only the medical practitioner liable for their injuries but also the treating facility.
Sometimes trying their best is not enough, and health care providers fail to meet adequate standards, thus executing critical acts of negligence. For patients to prove such wrongdoings, in the case of pulmonary embolism, there has to be a breach of duty of care that directly inflicted the damages and caused harm and losses.
The Standard of Care for Pulmonary Embolism in Florida's ERs and Hospitals
While there appears to be difficulty in diagnosing pulmonary embolism among hospital physicians, the duty of every professional to enforce proper norms in treating a patient cannot be minimized. With prompt intervention to a small clot, people can still recover from pulmonary embolism, but in the opposite situation, it can become fatal. The somber reality is that sudden death occurs in about 25% of people with PE.
The most frequent emergency room errors in connection with pulmonary embolism are:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Running an insufficient number of tests
- Failure to promptly apply medical care
- Discharging severely affected patients
- Administering wrong medication
- Follow-up care and close monitoring of the patient
In any such context of negligence, the health of the patient is subjected to swift deterioration and generates an adverse outcome. Any healthcare provider who deviated from the standard of care must be held liable for malpractice.
Pulmonary Embolism Mistreatment Accounts for Medical Malpractice
Developing in the lungs, pulmonary embolism (PE) may affect other organs and prove to be potentially fatal. Detected in its early stages, it may only require medication, given that the problem is minor. In severe cases, surgery is used to directly remove life-threatening clots, especially the ones restricting blood flow to the heart or lungs.
If immediate care is not applied, the chances are that long-term permanent lung impairment becomes inevitable. If adequate treatment is not administered, your condition may lead to pulmonary hypertension and, consequently, heart failure.
Other complications of pulmonary embolism include:
- Cardiac arrest and premature death
- Pleural effusion (a buildup of fluid between the membranes that surround the lungs)
- Pulmonary infarction (lung tissue death)
- Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure levels in pulmonary arteries)
- Arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm)
- Embolectomy complications (a delicate invasive procedure that could injure a major vessel)
There are various ways that the negligence of the emergency room staff can cause a patient to suffer or even die from pulmonary embolism. Therefore, assessing the severity of a patient's condition should be a priority, and treatment should be applied without delay.
Any patient suffering catastrophic damages after a pulmonary embolism due to emergency room negligence should verify that every step that the health care provided took was appropriate and within the applicable standard of care.
How Can The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary Help You in a Pulmonary Embolism Case?
Sub-standard medical care resulting in a patient being harmed equates to malpractice. Every expert must display and use competent judgment and actions in managing a patient's condition.
We can help you pursue a claim and validate a breach of the standard of care in your pulmonary embolism treatment. Our team of experts will review your case and make sure to obtain financial compensation for your suffering.
If you or your loved ones are considering taking legal action, do not delay in consulting with The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary about your options. Our initial case consultation is completely free of charge.