Go to main navigation
225 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 109, Charleston, South Carolina 29492
CALL US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION 843-722-6319 843-722-6319

Emergency Medical Malpractice

Victims of negligence in healthcare trust Lofton & Lofton with all issues requiring a South Carolina medical malpractice lawyer. Since 1984, we have built a formidable reputation representing patients injured in a wide variety of settings, including in the emergency room. Based in Charleston, our firm remains a well-respected leader in medical malpractice cases.

Emergency Medicine Malpractice

Emergency rooms are often the scene of intense drama in popular television shows and in real life because questions of life and death are confronted there every day. In practice, emergency medicine requires separating higher priority patients from those at lower risk. However, the choice made by healthcare providers in this context is not always correct. Sometimes the patient complains of a relatively benign symptom when the root cause is something else, and possibly something serious. Sound emergency medicine practice thus involves certain core elements, such as:

  • Sterile tools
  • Capable staff
  • Applicable tests
  • Correct diagnosis
  • Proper wound care
  • Treatment protocols
  • Rapid response time
  • Patient stabilization
  • Surgical preparation
  • Intubation procedures
  • Anesthetization rules
  • Plans in the event of complications

Emergency rooms with the proper protocols in place are much less likely to experience high rates of medical malpractice claims. However, when these protocols are lacking, and/or when staff are incapable of properly handling emergency situations, patients are at risk. Emergency medicine malpractice lawsuits provide legal recourse for these injured victims and families.

Emergency Medicine Malpractice Injuries

The failure to timely diagnose and treat the source of patient suffering in an emergency situation can lead to serious harm. Injuries caused by medical malpractice in the emergency room often involve or lead to:

  • Coma
  • Infertility
  • Birth defects
  • Brain injury
  • Resuscitation
  • Delayed healing
  • Internal bleeding
  • Chronic infection
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Anaphylactic shock
  • Risk of cardiac arrest
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Need for future surgery

When patients experience an exacerbation of injuries or never leave the emergency room, medical malpractice may be the cause. An experienced lawyer can help determine whether further harm or wrongful death was caused by negligence.

Negligence in Emergency Medicine

Negligence refers to unintentional, careless conduct causing injury. In emergency rooms, negligence is determined by a legal duty to act. Emergency room personnel owe patients a high duty of care. Any mistake or omission violates this standard, and can severely injure patients. Parties that may be liable for emergency malpractice include:

  • Doctors, nurses
  • Assistants, aides
  • Hospitals or facilities
  • On-duty trauma units
  • Administrators, staff
  • Temporary employees
  • Phlebotomy technicians
  • Operation room personnel
  • Surgeons, anesthesiologists

Courts have even found staffing agencies liable for wrongful death where a temporary emergency room worker was negligent and was the only available employee on duty. Patients injured by emergency medical malpractice are entitled to compensation for any resulting medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other benefits. Surviving family members are entitled to wrongful death damages for the lost income, lost relationship, and trauma related to a loved one’s death.

Recover Compensation for Emergency Medical Malpractice

If you were injured or lost a loved one due to emergency medicine malpractice, the South Carolina personal injury attorneys at Lofton & Lofton can help. We thoroughly review patient files to detect acts of negligence. We can work to unmask the cause of your injury, and fight to recover compensation for you. Call (843) 722-6319 today for a confidential consultation or contact us online. Lofton & Lofton is dedicated to providing you with prompt, individualized attention in medical malpractice law.