THE REALITY
Did you know that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States, killing at least 250,000 people each year? We know that is an alarming statistic. How do medical mistakes kill more people that everything except heart disease and cancer?
When you go to the ER, you do so because you have no other choice. You are trusting the professionals there to help you or a loved one get better. It is a scary time. Often though, you will find that the ER is overcrowded. Why does this matter?
Hospitals are often driven by profit, much like any other business. The way they get profit is by admitting patients from the ER and getting rid of patients who they think do not have serious injuries. The problem with that is they may skip necessary procedures if they are being rushed. Hospital administrators may pressure ER doctors and nurses to discharge patients too early in order to treat even more patients.
Early hospital discharge can lead to major problems. It is irresponsible for healthcare professionals to do this and they should be held accountable if someone they discharged early becomes worse. We realize that, even without pressure to treat and discharge patients quickly, that ER staff may be overworked. If a hospital does not have enough personnel for a busy ER, the doctors and nurses are much more likely to make mistakes that can make their patients worse or even kill them.
What are your options if this happens?
