Understanding Emergency Room Malpractice in Washington State When you or a loved one faces a medical emergency, the emergency room (ER) is often the first and most critical point of care. We trust ER doctors, nurses, and staff to act swiftly and competently, making life-saving decisions under immense pressure. However, even in these high-stakes environments, mistakes can happen, and when they fall below the accepted standard of care, the consequences can be devastating. This is what we refer to as emergency room malpractice, and understanding your rights in Washington state is crucial. What Constitutes Emergency Room Malpractice? Emergency room malpractice occurs when medical professionals in an ER setting provide care that deviates from the accepted medical standard of care, directly leading to patient injury or harm. Unlike other areas of medicine, the standard of care in an ER is often viewed through the lens of a rapidly evolving situation, incomplete patient history, and the ...