Emergency Room Doctrine

  • Read more: Medical Malpractice in an Emergency Room. What Constitutes an “Emergency” Treatment?

    Medical Malpractice in an Emergency Room. What Constitutes an “Emergency” Treatment?

    By Alex Stein Georgia’s Supreme Court has recently delivered an important decision interpreting the “emergency room” doctrine: Nguyen v. Southwestern Emergency Physicians, P.C., — S.E.2d —-, 2015 WL 6631964 (Ga. 2015).  Anyone interested in medical malpractice law should know about that decision.

  • Read more: Medical Malpractice or General Negligence? A Redux

    Medical Malpractice or General Negligence? A Redux

    By Alex Stein Whether a tort action sounds in “medical malpractice,” as opposed to “general negligence,” or vice versa, is often critical. Medical malpractice actions must satisfy special requirements that include shortened limitations periods, statutes of repose, expert affidavits, and merit certificates. Suits sounding in ordinary negligence need not satisfy those requirements. Filing and prosecuting those…

  • Read more: The “Emergency Room” Doctrine (a.k.a. Doctors’ Virtual Immunity Against Suit)

    The “Emergency Room” Doctrine (a.k.a. Doctors’ Virtual Immunity Against Suit)

    By Alex Stein Under Georgia statute (that exists in other states as well), allegations of medical malpractice “arising out of the provision of emergency medical care in a hospital emergency department or obstetrical unit or in a surgical suite immediately following the evaluation or treatment of a patient in a hospital emergency department” must show “gross…