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Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) respond in emergencies and have medical training to treat the injured or ill people they serve. While EMTs used to be thought of as mere assistants or ambulance drivers while paramedics take the reins, EMTs now respond to a slew of emergency medical calls, and depending on where they work and who is available, may in some cases be the only one responsible for treating patients on the way to the hospital.
Unfortunately, just like with physicians, surgeons, and hospitals, paramedics and EMTs—responsible for patient care at often very critical times—can also commit medical malpractice.
Medical Malpractice Defined
Essentially, medical malpractice occurs when a health care professional neglects treatment, provides inappropriate treatment, fails to perform an appropriate action, or gives substandard treatment, ultimately leading to the harm, injury, or even death of a patient.
In 2016, a study from John Hopkins reportedly found that medical negligence had become the third leading cause of death in the U.S., coming in just behind heart disease and cancer. The study placed the total deaths from medical errors per year at about 250,000, though other studies have reported significantly higher numbers.
Medical Malpractice Examples
Common examples include misdiagnosis, delayed response by first responders or ambulances, incorrect medication dosage, inappropriate treatment, failing to follow up, and more.
Recent research into Rhode Island medical records has shown a slew of incorrectly placed intubation tubes by EMTs, leading to patient death.
Who Is Liable?
An EMT or paramedic may be held liable for medical malpractice if they acted negligently and caused further harm to the patient. These cases require the patient to prove negligence, which requires these four aspects:
- The patient must prove that the EMT owed a duty of care to the patient (duty of care)
- The EMT breached that duty of care by failing to act as a reasonable professional would (breach of duty of care)
- As a result, the patient suffered further injury (injury suffered)
- And the injury was shown to have been caused by the breach of duty of care specifically, not some other cause
Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury by a negligent EMT, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by medical malpractice injuries, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with experienced lawyers for medical malpractice. Consulting lawyers for medical malpractice can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.
Join a Free EMT Intubation Death Lawsuit Investigation
If you are concerned that your loved one may have died due to an EMT intubation error, fill out the form on this page.
Experienced attorneys will review your information to determine whether you qualify to participate in a free EMT intubation death lawsuit investigation.
This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.
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