The most important decision an emergency room doctor makes is determining whether to release a patient or admit him or her to a hospital for further treatment. Releasing a patient who needs medical attention can result in death or serious injury to the patient. Sadly, this is a situation that happens often.
At Miller & Wagner, our attorneys investigate and present damage claims for negligent care in emergency rooms and other medical facilities. Our lawyers offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case. With offices in Pacific City and Portland, our lawyers represent families throughout Oregon and Washington.
Did an ER Doctor Misdiagnose Your Medical Condition?
Many people go to emergency rooms with medical conditions that are not life-threatening. Medical staff need to be able to quickly screen patients to determine who can be treated and released and who needs emergency care.
Examples of serious medical conditions are often misdiagnosed in an emergency room setting include:
- Failure to diagnose compartment syndrome in fracture cases: Fascia tissues containing groups of muscles, blood vessels and nerves can become swollen in a fracture, reducing blood flow to muscles. This can cause permanent muscle damage if not treated promptly.
- Charting errors: A mistake in a patient’s chart can lead to a cascade of errors resulting in serious injury or death.
- Misdiagnosis of heart attack: Failure to order proper tests can result in the release of a patient who has suffered or is about to suffer a heart attack.
- Discharge without proper instructions for follow-up care: It’s essential for the emergency room doctor to provide patients with instructions for prescriptions, further tests and follow-up care.
Our Attorneys on Your Side
Dave Miller and Bob Wagner both began their legal careers as a defense lawyer for malpractice insurance companies. Their insights into the claim evaluation and investigation process from the defense side can give you an accurate idea of the strength and value of your case. They also have access to a wide network of outstanding medical experts — trusted professionals whose involvement with your case is indispensable to its success. In fact, Oregon and Washington doctors often call Miller & Wagner when they need advice about potential malpractice claims for their own family members and friends.
From our offices in Portland, our medical malpractice trial attorneys represent plaintiffs in medical negligence claims against physicians and health care providers throughout Oregon and Washington. For your convenience, we have a satellite office in Pacific City.