Medical Misdiagnosis in the ER (pain, health issues, heart, insurance)

[Chava61]

I was wondering how often medical misdiagnosis occurs in the ER meaning the patient is sent home with a wrong diagnosis. Then the patient needs to return within 48 hours to the ER and more tests are done. Then a potentially life-threatening situation is found and the patient needs an emergency operation as soon as possible.

Any thoughts or comments on this?

[myrc60]

I seriously hope that never happens but I've heard news reports that it does.

[Madeline2121]

I don't know of any specific examples, but I'm sure it does happen. OP, did this happen to you?

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by Madeline2121

I don't know of any specific examples, but I'm sure it does happen. OP, did this happen to you?

Yes and I know one other person that it happened to (who lives in a different part of the country).

[Madeline2121]

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope that your health is good now.

[phonelady61]

I am so sure that it happens all the time . I knew a lady who did not have any health insurance and she went to the er complaining of terible stomach pain and they sent her home and said it was gas and well she went back two hours later in severe pain and vomiting . It was really apendicitis and the surgeon told her as soon as they got the dog gone thing out it burst . she could have died had she stayed home .

[ToucheGA]

Originally Posted by Chava61

I was wondering how often medical misdiagnosis occurs in the ER meaning the patient is sent home with a wrong diagnosis. Then the patient needs to return within 48 hours to the ER and more tests are done. Then a potentially life-threatening situation is found and the patient needs an emergency operation as soon as possible.

Any thoughts or comments on this?

Please provide specifics regarding this case. It's hard to respond without a few details.

[Annie53]

A friend of mine kept getting chest pains.

He went to a local hospital..... they told him to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist and sent him home.....he made an appointment the next day.

The next time he had the pain he went to our other local hospital.....he was told the same thing. {while waiting for his gastro appointment}

The third time he was visiting a friend in the hospital in a nearby city when he had the same chest pains. {still waiting for his appointment date}

A nurse there told him to go to their emergency department immediately.

This time they diagnosed a heart attack. The very next day he had a stent put in at that hospital.

His ex mother-in-law saved his life.....that is who he was visiting at the third hospital. LOL

[PippySkiddles]

Originally Posted by Annie53

A friend of mine kept getting chest pains.

He went to a local hospital..... they told him to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist and sent him home.....he made an appointment the next day.

The next time he had the pain he went to our other local hospital.....he was told the same thing. {while waiting for his gastro appointment}

The third time he was visiting a friend in the hospital in a nearby city when he had the same chest pains. {still waiting for his appointment date}

A nurse there told him to go to their emergency department immediately.

This time they diagnosed a heart attack. The very next day he had a stent put in at that hospital.

His ex mother-in-law saved his life.....that is who he was visiting at the third hospital. LOL

crickeys--scary stuff!!!
I think people have to be proactive with their health issues. If I went to the ER and was about to be sent on my way without any reasonable answer or diagnosis I would tell them I'm not comfortable with going home under these conditions so please have someone in charge come speak with me. And I would NOT sign the release forms to leave until I was satisfied.

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by phonelady61

I am so sure that it happens all the time . I knew a lady who did not have any health insurance and she went to the er complaining of terible stomach pain and they sent her home and said it was gas and well she went back two hours later in severe pain and vomiting . It was really apendicitis and the surgeon told her as soon as they got the dog gone thing out it burst . she could have died had she stayed home .

My situation was similar although I did have health insurance. I was told I had gastritis and sent home as the hospital did not do a CT-Scan (although it was mentioned but it was not done). The next night I starting throwing up everything I tried to eat. So again I went to the ER after waiting 4-5 hours a CT-Scan was finally done and I had appendicitis plus something that looks like the beginning of Krohn's/Crohn's Disease (which I currently do not have). Again it took several hours until I was operated on. I too could have died during those 48 hours or more due the misdiagnosis. So again I wondering how common it is that this happens and why does it happen.