Triage Errors

Triage is a practice typically employed by healthcare providers to manage large numbers of patients and ensure that critical resources are used efficiently. While triage is an essential component of emergency care, mistakes during the process can delay appropriate care for critical patients and ultimately harm patients, and in many cases, such missteps qualify as medical malpractice. If you were harmed by triage errors, you might be eligible to pursue medical malpractice claims against the parties that caused your injuries, and you should talk to a lawyer. At Arfaa Law Group, our assertive Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys understand what it takes to prove that the negligence of a healthcare provider caused a patient harm, and if we represent you, we will fight to help you strive for a just outcome.

Triage is the process of prioritizing patients in emergency settings based on the severity of their condition to ensure that those needing immediate medical attention receive it as quickly as possible. Typically, triage involves a quick assessment of each patient's symptoms and vital signs.

Patients are typically categorized into groups such as immediate, urgent, delayed, and expectant. Immediate patients have life-threatening injuries or conditions requiring immediate medical intervention to survive. Urgent patients have serious but not immediately life-threatening conditions and need medical care soon but can wait a short time. Delayed patients have minor injuries or conditions that can wait for a longer period before receiving medical treatment. Expectant patients have injuries or conditions so severe that survival is unlikely, given the available resources and the condition of other patients.

Errors during the triage process can have serious implications for patient outcomes. One common error is the misclassification of patient severity, where a patient is either under-triaged or over-triaged. Under-triage occurs when a patient with a severe condition is mistakenly categorized as having a less urgent issue, leading to delays in necessary treatment. Conversely, over-triage involves categorizing a less severe condition as more urgent, potentially diverting critical resources away from patients who need them more.

Mistakes can also stem from incomplete or inaccurate assessments. This might happen if vital signs are not correctly measured or recorded or if the patient's symptoms are misunderstood or overlooked due to communication barriers or rushed evaluations. Language differences and the chaotic nature of emergency environments can exacerbate these issues, leading to incomplete information gathering and subsequent misjudgments.

Triage errors frequently have a negative impact on patient outcomes and, as such, form the basis for medical malpractice lawsuits. Typically, most cases arising out of triage errors include a negligence claim against the healthcare provider.

In Maryland, to prove the negligence of a defendant healthcare provider, a plaintiff must show that the defendant had a duty to adhere to the relevant standard of care. This standard is defined as the level of care that a competent practitioner in the same field would provide under similar circumstances.

The plaintiff must then present evidence showing that the defendant failed to meet this duty by deviating from the standard of care. Finally, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant’s breach directly caused them to suffer measurable harm, meaning they would not have been injured if the defendant had met the standard of care. Expert testimony typically plays a role in demonstrating the standard of care, how the defendant breached the standard, and showing causation.

A plaintiff who demonstrates the defendant committed malpractice may be awarded compensation for their financial losses, including the cost of care, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost wages, as well as their harm that is not easily measured, such as the pain, mental and emotional trauma, and suffering they endured due to the defendant’s negligence.

Triage is a key part of emergency care, as it allows healthcare providers to ensure that all patients receive prompt and appropriate care, but if triage is not performed carefully, it can harm the very patients it is designed to help. If you sustained losses because of a recklessly conducted triage, it is wise to talk to an attorney about your options. The seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group take pride in helping victims of medical negligence protect their interests, and if you engage our services, we will gather the evidence needed to help you seek a favorable outcome. Our office is located in Baltimore, and we often represent people in medical malpractice claims throughout the city. You can reach us at 410-889-1850 or through our online form to set up a meeting.