Perhaps, yes. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) play a crucial role in providing pre-hospital care and saving lives during emergencies. However, like any medical professional, EMTs are not immune from causing medical malpractice when caring for a patient. Please contact a skilled medical malpractice attorney now if you believe you were injured due to a medical provider’s negligence.
Understanding Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice refers to the professional negligence of a healthcare provider. Providers, including EMTs, cause malpractice when they either:
- Act unreasonably under the circumstances, or
- Provide medical care/treatment that falls below a reasonable standard of care.
A medical provider is said to fall below the acceptable standard of care when a reasonable provider in the same or similar situation would have either treated a patient differently or taken a different course of treatment.
In the context of a malpractice claim, your medical malpractice lawyer will have to prove the following elements to successfully show that a healthcare provider committed malpractice:
- Duty of Care: The EMT must owe you a duty of care, which is typically established through the EMTs professional role and the facts of your case,
- Breach of Standard of Care: The EMT’s actions must deviate from the standard of care expected in similar situations,
- Causation: There must be a direct link between the EMT’s breach of duty and the harm you suffered, and
- Damages: You must have experienced actual harm or damages as a result of the EMT’s actions.
Potential Causes of EMT Malpractice
EMTs are trained to assess and stabilize patients in emergency situations, and their scope of practice is generally limited to pre-hospital care. They are not expected to provide the same level of comprehensive care as doctors or nurses in a hospital setting. However, this does not absolve them of accountability for their actions.
Examples of ways in which an EMT can commit malpractice include:
- Failure to Follow Protocols: EMTs are guided by strict protocols and procedures. Deviating from these established guidelines without valid reasons could be considered negligence.
- Inadequate Assessment and Documentation: Thorough assessment and accurate documentation are crucial aspects of pre-hospital care. Failure to properly assess a patient’s condition or document relevant information may contribute to medical malpractice claims.
- Communication Errors: Effective communication is vital in emergency situations. Miscommunication between EMTs or with hospital staff may lead to misunderstandings and compromised patient care.
- Lack of Informed Consent: EMTs must obtain informed consent when possible. Failure to do so, or providing inadequate information about treatment options, can result in legal repercussions.
- Equipment Failure or Improper Use: EMTs rely on various medical equipment. If equipment malfunctions or is used improperly, it can lead to serious consequences for the patient.
Contact Otorowski Morrow & Golden, PLLC
Please know that our firm is here to help if you suffered an injury because of a medical professional’s malpractice. Otorowski Morrow & Golden, PLLC provides free consultations to all our potential clients. The attorneys at our law firm also have over 120 years of combined experience representing injured parties in medical malpractice cases. They never back down to insurers and fight for their clients’ interests every step of the way. Do yourself a favor and contact them now for the quality legal representation you deserve.