Michigan Emergency Room Error Cases: Stories and Statistics

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Emergency departments are critical safety nets—but when mistakes happen, they can be tragic. In Michigan, ER errors—ranging from misdiagnosis to staffing challenges—have led to serious outcomes. This post explores the statistics, underlying causes, and notable cases, with a focus on how Michigan compares to broader national trends.

How common are emergency room errors?

There are over 130 million visits to the ED annually according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
According to the National Institute of Health, each year, there are approximately 7.4 million ED diagnostic errors and 2.6 million diagnostic adverse events with preventable harms.
Every year, in the ED there are approximately 371,000 serious misdiagnosis-related harms including more than 100,000 permanent, high-severity disabilities and 250,000 deaths.
In other words, approximately 1 in 18 ED patients receive an incorrect diagnosis, 1 in 50 suffering an adverse event, and 1 in 350 suffering permanent disability or death.

In Michigan specifically, on average, the visit rate to the ER was 43 visits per 100 people. That means that many thousands of Michiganders per year have suffered from avoidable emergency room errors.

Types & Causes of ER Errors in Michigan

Misdiagnosis & Delayed Diagnosis: Myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm/dissection, spinal cord compression/injury, stroke, appendicitis, sepsis, pulmonary embolism are just some of diagnoses that can be missed when there is an emergency room error. According to the National Institute of Health, stroke, myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm/dissection, spinal cord compression/injury and venous thromboembolism account for 39 percent of serious misdiagnosis-related harms.
Medication Errors: Wrong dosage, unrecognized interactions, and failures to verify allergies are all risks, especially in a rushed ER environment.
Treatment errors: Delayed treatment, triage errors, wrong procedures or procedure errors and improper patient discharge.
Systemic Contributors: Health care providers who staff Michigan ERs, including doctors, midlevel providers, and nurses, especially in very busy hospitals, face fatigue, staffing issues, and communication breakdowns. There is a national nurse shortage, and Michigan is no exception. According to the Michigan Annual Nurse Survey Project, 32% of licensed nurses in Michigan are 55 years old or older. In 2024, there were nearly 8,500 nursing positions open statewide.
Communication & Cognitive Bias: Interruptions and incomplete records contribute to anchoring or confirmation bias among ER providers.

Case Examples From Around Michigan

Detroit Medical Center – Fatal Pulmonary Embolism

A woman exhibiting classic symptoms of pulmonary embolism was discharged from a Detroit ER without proper testing. She later died. A jury awarded over $40 million in damages—though state caps limited noneconomic damages to $795,000.

• Brain‑Damaged Infant at Bon Secor Hospital

A baby admitted with respiratory difficulty was misdiagnosed and sent home. The child later suffered brain damage. The family received a $55 million jury verdict, the largest in Michigan malpractice history, tied to ER mismanagement.

• Spinal Cord Abscess Leading to Paralysis

A patient with neck pain and weakness presented at the ER twice, but both visits failed to trigger MRI imaging. Eventually, he became paralyzed, underwent surgery, and died during litigation. Settlements ranged from $1–2.5 million for delayed diagnosis cases involving strokes or neurological injury.

• UT Home for Veterans: Medication Reporting Error

Although not an ER per se, a nurse at a Grand Rapids veterans’ home knowingly failed to report incorrect medication dosing for a vulnerable adult—later charged in criminal court for abuse. It highlights how medication mistakes and failures to report can lead to serious charges and harm.

Recommended Related Pages

Contact Hoffer & Sheremet

If you or someone you know was harmed by an emergency room error in Michigan, it’s critical to seek legal advice promptly. Understanding your rights and the applicable deadlines is the first step toward compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. In Michigan, there are time limits on when you can bring a medical malpractice action. There are also limits on the amount of non-economic damages (called pain and suffering) that you may be entitled to. Contact the office of Hoffer & Sheremet, PLC to speak with our knowledge attorneys about your case.

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