Emergency Room Diagnosis Errors

Emergency Room Malpractice Attorneys in the Bronx

Medical errors committed by emergency room (ER) health care providers, including physicians and nurses, can result in the loss of life or limb. Regardless of the circumstances, a best-possible legal result is dependent on a thorough legal investigation and aggressive, skilled and knowledgeable negotiation and litigation.

At Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo & Plotkin LLP, we represent clients throughout New York City who have suffered due to the misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of a serious illness or injury. Our attorneys are experienced in holding negligent doctors accountable and recovering the compensation our clients deserve.

Contact us today online or by telephone to speak with an experienced New York medical malpractice law firm.

Many cases of ER malpractice involve diagnostic errors. A missed diagnosis is common when the patient doesn’t have what is considered a classic presentation. However, doctors are expected to be aware of the atypical signs and symptoms of disease as well. Some examples include:

  • More than 50 percent of pulmonary embolisms (400,000 patients annually) are misdiagnosed as pneumonia, chronic lung disease, or another ailment.
  • 30 percent of abdominal aortic aneurysms are misdiagnosed due to a lack of the classic triad of symptoms (pain, hypotension, and a pulsating mass as the heart tries to pump blood to the body) even though more than 50 percent of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms do not have the classic signs.
  • Nearly 25 percent of bacterial meningitis is mis-diagnosed due to the lack of the classic triad of headache, fever, and a stiff neck.
  • 14 percent of strokes are misdiagnosed form various reasons such as failure to adhere to the AHA and American Stroke Association’s established stroke management guidelines, timely refer the patient to a stroke care team, take an adequate patient history, order and correctly interpret test, and obtain appropriate consultation.
  • Up to 30 percent of patients with an aortic dissection are misdiagnosed, even though aortic dissections are common in vehicular crashes.
  • 8 percent of acute myocardial infarctions are missed annually due to things like failure to take an adequate history, misinterpretation of an EKG, and lack of training and experience. Many times it is missed because the patient doesn’t report suffering from pain in the chest and left arm, a classic symptom of a heart attack. However, 42 percent of women and 31 percent of men do not experience these symptoms.

In order to pursue a misdiagnosis lawsuit, you must prove that a doctor’s negligence lead to your suffering. Some illnesses are more difficult to diagnose than others and you may not show the common signs and symptoms of the disease. We have access to medical experts who can help us determine whether your doctor should have diagnosed your disease in its early stages.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one were injured due to negligent emergency room care, or if you have questions about possible malpractice, contact our firm online or by telephone.

Contact us today at (212) 684-1880 to speak with us during a free, confidential consultation. We’re ready to explore your legal options