Medical Malpractice by EMTs and Paramedics
We rely on EMTs and paramedics to deliver emergency and life-preserving care. What can be considered negligence though?
When an accident occurs, or an emergency health issue arises, there are often “first responders” that try to manage the situation until a patient gets to a hospital. These first responders, such as EMTs and paramedics, are trained to give immediate emergency treatment upon their arrival at the scene up to when the patient’s care gets passed along to a hospital.
When EMTs and paramedics are responding to high-risk scenarios, it can be difficult to determine if it was an EMT or paramedic’s negligence that resulted in a patient’s injury or death , or if it was an unavoidable tragedy. You need to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney to review the case. If you think that you or a loved one was injured by an EMT or paramedic’s negligence, contact the Law Offices of Cardaro & Peek , and let us help you with your case.
First Responders and their Responsibilities
EMTs, or emergency medical technicians, and paramedics are both first responders to medical emergencies and traumatic injuries. Both serve similar roles, but they are not identical. EMTs are entry-level patient care providers, while paramedics have higher levels of education and are therefore allowed to perform different lifesaving procedures. Once EMTs get to the scene, they assess a patient’s condition and can manage respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergencies . Paramedics can administer mor e extensive prehospital care than EMTs. In addition to doing the tasks of EMTs, paramedics can give medications orally and intravenously. They can interpret electrocardiograms (EKGs) — which monitor heart function — and use other monitors and complex equipment.
EMTs and paramedics have many responsibilities. A few of their duties include:
- Assess and treat the life-threatening condition and related symptoms
- Stabilize a patient’s condition while they’re transported to the nearest medical facility
- Report the patient’s condition and concerns to the treating emergency physician
If it can be proven that an EMT or paramedic deviated from the standard of care when carrying out their responsibilities, there may be a case for medical malpractice against them.
What Can Negligence Look Like?
When EMTs and paramedics perform below the level of care that a similarly skilled responder would have provided in a similar situation, it is considered medical negligence. These actions can manifest itself in various ways, including:
- Failing to arrive at the scene promptly
- Failure to recognize and diagnose the patient’s condition(s)
- Failure to properly perform basic life-preserving procedures
- Improperly moving an injured patient
- Improperly administering medications
- Incorrectly recording or failing to pass along patient information to the next treating doctor
Contact The Law Offices of Cardaro & Peek, LLC Today
Do you believe that you or your loved one has suffered as a result of medical malpractice or medical neglect? You need to talk to an experienced team of local lawyers today.
The lawyers at Cardaro & Peek, LLC have the experience and resources necessary to investigate and litigate all types of medical claims throughout Maryland and Washington D.C. Cardaro & Peek, LLC has medical personnel on staff and has access to nationally recognized, board-certified physicians and other experts, to assist in the investigation, analysis, and prosecution of all types of medical malpractice claims. If you or a loved one have experienced malpractice, give us a call at 410-752-6166. Please visit our website www.cardarolaw.com and follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn for more information.
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