Woman accuses hospital of emergency room malpractice

All orders in a hospital are important, but some can mean the difference between life or death for a patient. The wrong dose of medicine, the wrong medicine, the wrong operation or the error of a physician can result in serious injury or death of a patient. Louisiana patients may be interested in one woman’s lawsuit, claiming that she suffered because of emergency room malpractice. Although she did not die, she now claims she has suffered additional medical expenses and pain as a result of two different medical errors during her care at a hospital in another state.

The woman suffers from chronic pain due to a disease she suffers called Decrum’s. The disease results in tumors that grow throughout her body. She sought pain management at an emergency room due to the disease. As part of her plan of care, the woman requested to not be resuscitated in the event of cardiac arrest and/or death while under medical care.

The lawsuit claims that the woman had a clear medical allergy to the pain medicine Diluadid, but emergency medical professionals administered it. The woman suffered a reaction and cardiac arrest as a result of the drug, and physicians made the call to resuscitate the woman despite her Do Not Resuscitate order. In the lawsuit, the hospital has been accused of negligence for administering the wrong drug and ignoring the woman’s wishes in the event of cardiac arrest.

Unfortunately, emergency room malpractice is not uncommon. Sadly, it is the patient’s burden to pay for additional medical costs when medical errors occur. In addition, patients may suffer pain, discomfort, disabilities and/or death due to errors. Medical malpractice attorneys in Louisiana are equipped to review medical cases and advise patients of their options for legal recourse and possible compensation for the monetary losses suffered.