How Emergency Room Mistakes Happen—and What You Can Do About It

By Hendrickson Law | Advocates for Medical Malpractice Victims

Every day, emergency rooms across the country save lives—but they’re also one of the most common settings for dangerous medical errors. When seconds count, and hospitals are understaffed or disorganized, the very place meant to provide urgent care can become the source of preventable harm.

As a law firm that has spent decades representing patients in Missouri and beyond, we know the difference between a poor outcome and real malpractice. If you or a loved one was misdiagnosed, discharged too soon, or ignored in the ER, you deserve answers—and possibly compensation.

Let’s break down how these mistakes happen, the warning signs, and what you can do if you suspect malpractice.

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Common Emergency Room Errors That Lead to Malpractice Claims

Emergency rooms are fast-paced, chaotic, and often overcrowded. While some mistakes are unavoidable, many are caused by a failure to follow basic standards of care.

Here are some of the most common ER errors we see in our practice:

1. Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

This is far and away the most frequent claim in emergency medicine malpractice. ER physicians may:

• Dismiss symptoms as minor when they signal a life-threatening condition (e.g., chest pain from a heart attack mistaken as indigestion)

• Fail to consider a full differential diagnosis

• Overlook lab results or imaging reports

• Discharge the patient before test results return

Example: A patient arrives with shortness of breath and is diagnosed with “bronchitis” without being tested for a pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, or heart failure. Days later, the patient dies at home.

2. Failure to Triage or Prioritize Care

Emergency departments use triage to determine which patients need care the fastest. But sometimes:

• Critical patients are left waiting too long

• Minor complaints are prioritized due to poor triage assessment

• Vital signs are ignored or not properly monitored

Result: Patients deteriorate while sitting in the waiting room or behind a curtain.

3. Communication Failures

Communication is often rushed or incomplete in the ER, especially between shifts or among different providers. Errors can include:

• Failing to inform the physician of abnormal test results

• Nurses not documenting key symptoms or history

• Providers not reading the full chart or previous ER visit notes

These lapses can lead to serious errors being repeated or missed entirely.

4. Improper Discharge

Many patients are sent home without adequate evaluation or instructions. This includes:

• Failing to wait for lab or imaging results before discharge

• Not recognizing red-flag symptoms that warrant admission

• Giving patients vague or misleading discharge paperwork

Some patients aren’t told to return if symptoms worsen—or are never told what symptoms to watch for in the first place.

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Real-World Consequences of ER Mistakes

Emergency room malpractice can result in:

• Stroke

• Heart attack

• Sepsis

• Permanent disability

• Brain damage

• Wrongful death

We've represented patients who were sent home with serious conditions like appendicitis, meningitis, internal bleeding, aortic aneurysms and diabetic ketoacidosis—simply because a doctor rushed, guessed, or didn’t listen.

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What to Do if You Suspect an ER Mistake

If something didn’t sit right about your ER visit—or a loved one got worse or passed away shortly after being discharged—it’s critical to act:

✅ Write Down Everything You Remember

Dates, times, what was said, and who you saw. These details matter.

✅ Request the Medical Records

Don’t wait. You have a right to them, and they can reveal what tests were run (or not run) and what the doctor actually knew.

✅ Talk to a Medical Malpractice Attorney

Not every bad outcome is malpractice, but if the care fell below accepted standards and caused harm, you may have a valid case. Our firm can review the records, consult medical experts, and help you understand your rights.

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Why These Cases Matter

You’re not just seeking compensation—you’re holding the system accountable. Emergency room negligence doesn’t just harm individuals; it erodes public trust in a system meant to save lives.

At Hendrickson Law, we’ve helped clients throughout Missouri get answers, justice, and financial recovery after ER malpractice. We know what hospitals try to hide, and we know how to prove it.

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📞 Think You Were a Victim of Emergency Room Malpractice?

Call Hendrickson Law today at (314) 721-8833 or visit fill out our contact form free consultation.

Don’t wait. Evidence disappears and deadlines pass. Let us help you hold them accountable.