Tennessee Legislation Would Not Hold Emergency Rooms Accountable for Negligence
In Tennessee and all across the country, when we go to the emergency room for care, we expect to be treated properly and feeling better or on our way to feeling better by the time we leave. However, sometimes doctors, nurses, and other medical staff miss something or make a mistake and this leads to improper and negligent care. When this happens, we expect to be able to hold the emergency room accountable for what happened. However, a bill that is going to be introduced into Tennessee legislation would allow hospitals and physicians to provide negligent medical care without holding them accountable for these actions. If you have questions about this bill or your own medical negligent case, you should speak with a Tennessee medical malpractice lawyer right away. They will hear your case and see if you are entitled to compensation.
This legislation would allow a patient to go into the Emergency Room with something as serious as chest pains and if the doctor were to mistake these symptoms for bronchitis and send you home, and then you were to have a heart attack and die, the doctor who saw you would not be held accountable or considered negligent for this treatment. This legislation also will protect physicians in surgery or in the OB unit if the person is admitted through the emergency room. A patient will have little protection from negligence while in the emergency room and also during their whole hospital visit.
This bill is unreasonable for women, children, and lower income families that are more likely to use emergency room services and care. These Tennessee residents will have little to no protection when they seek medical attention in the emergency room. This bill will also affect taxpayers by having them pay the bill for people without insurance after they receive negligent care. Negligence already adds up to 37.6 billion a year for the nation and this bill would add to that cost.
If you have been treated in the emergency room and received negligent care and have questions about how this legislation may affect your case, then you should contact one of our compassionate and experienced Tennessee medical malpractice attorneys immediately. We care about our clients and will answer any questions you may have as well as work with you to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call us at 800.705.2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
