5 Holiday Tips To Keep You From Being an Emergency Room Malpractice Victim
Released on = December 15, 2005, 5:39 am
Press Release Author = The Law Office of Gerald M. Oginski, LLC
Industry = Consumer Services
Press Release Summary = The holidays are time for being with family and vacations.
Doctors and hospital staff are no exception. Understaffing is a problem at many
hospitals throughout the Country. If you need medical care this holiday season,
learn how to protect yourself.
The holidays are notorious for over indulging on food, overexertion while shoveling
snow, and high levels of stress. Unfortunately, this puts many people in the
emergency room needing immediate medical care.
What happens in the emergency room when the hospital is understaffed because the
doctors and staff are on vacation and they\'re short-staffed? Your care may suffer.
Here are 5 important tips to help you through the holidays if you wind up in the
emergency room:
1. Make sure you are seen by an attending emergency room doctor. An attending is a
doctor who has completed all of his postgraduate training, and is now working for
the hospital. Most emergency rooms are staffed by doctors-in-training, called
residents, and are supposed to be supervised by a senior physician. If you are seen
by the resident doctor, you should ask to also be personally evaluated by the
attending physician.
2. If you are able, ask lots of questions."Why do I need this test," "What is the
purpose of this medication," "Are there any alternatives to treat me, other than
what you are recommending?" "What will happen if I choose not to have the
treatment? " Do not accept what is given to you blindly.
3. If you have x-rays, an MRI scan or a CAT scan, ask whether the attending
radiologist has read the films. Do not rely on the radiology resident in the
emergency room to read the films. "Oh, but the attending isn't in now, he reads it
the next day." No good. If the attending radiologist isn't available, ask the
emergency room doctor to read the films himself.
4. If you are given medication, either in pill form or by intravenous line, you must
ask if there's the potential for an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can kill
you. You must ask.
5. If you are allergic to any medication, make sure the emergency room staff notes
it on your chart, and make sure you are given an 'allergy bracelet' to let everyone
know about your allergies. In practically every hospital, allergy bracelets are
available to warn hospital staff about a patient's allergies. Don't rely on a note
in your chart to inform the doctors and hospital staff about your allergy.
Veteran New York malpractice lawyer Gerry Oginski says "Keeping these tips in mind
while in the emergency room will minimize your risk of being a medical malpractice
victim during this holiday season."
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