One of the most common causes of emergency room malpractice is understaffing. This leads to support staff, nurses, and ER physicians being required to work long hours. An ER doctor will typically treat dozens of patients in one shift, quickly diagnosing and prescribing treatment and then moving on to the next one, almost like an assembly line.
Another serious issue that can cause malpractice is that when a patient shows up in an emergency room, especially one who is seriously injured and not able to effectively communicate, the treating physician often has little knowledge about what that patient’s medical history is. This can lead to serious medical problems, especially if the patient has any existing medical conditions, allergies to medications, etc.