Premature Discharge Lawsuits in Michigan
Patients deserve safe, timely care—not a rushed discharge that sends them home sicker or at risk. If you or a loved one was sent home too soon and suffered harm, Hoffer & Sheremet holds hospitals and providers accountable. We investigate rapidly, build the medical proof, and fight for full compensation.
What is “Premature Discharge”?
A premature discharge happens when a patient is released from the ER, observation unit, or inpatient service before their condition is adequately evaluated, stabilized, or treated, or without appropriate follow-up and safety instructions. It’s medical negligence when the discharge falls below accepted standards of care and causes injury or death.
Common examples
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ER discharge of a patient with chest pain without appropriate cardiac workup or observation.
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Sending home a patient with infection/sepsis without vitals stabilization, cultures, lactate trending, or antibiotics.
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Discharging a head-injury patient without imaging or observation despite red-flag symptoms.
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Releasing a post-operative patient with uncontrolled pain, abnormal vitals, or unaddressed labs.
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Sending home a newborn or postpartum patient with jaundice, dehydration, preeclampsia signs, or infection risks.
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Discharging elderly or medically complex patients without medication reconciliation or safe handoff to home/rehab.
When Early Discharge Becomes Negligence
A rushed discharge may be negligent when providers fail to:
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Take and trend vitals (tachycardia, hypotension, fever, hypoxia).
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Order indicated tests (e.g., troponins, serial EKGs, lactate, CBC/chemistry, cultures, imaging).
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Reassess abnormal results before discharge.
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Provide clear return precautions and follow-up plans that match the risk level.
Red Flags That Should Rarely Go Home
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Unstable vital signs or abnormal EKGs.
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Severe or worsening pain, syncope, new neurological deficits, confusion.
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High-risk infections: fever with tachycardia/hypotension, suspected sepsis, elevated lactate.
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OB/postpartum warning signs: severe headache, vision changes, RUQ pain, heavy bleeding, hypertension.
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Newborn concerns: poor feeding, lethargy, jaundice, weight loss >10%, fever or hypothermia.
How Premature Discharge Can Harm Patients
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Progression of disease (e.g., heart attack or stroke after missed evaluation).
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Sepsis and multi-organ failure after untreated infection.
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Intracranial bleed after head injury without observation.
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Medication injuries due to reconciliation errors or lack of counseling.
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Avoidable readmission and prolonged recovery—or wrongful death.
How Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Prove A Premature Discharge Case
We build cases the right way—early and thoroughly. And all at no upfront cost to you.
Our investigation playbook:
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Immediate record retrieval: ER notes, nursing flowsheets, vital-sign trends, orders, test results, imaging, discharge instructions, call logs.
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Timeline & deviation map: what should have happened vs. what did.
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Expert review: emergency medicine, hospitalist, critical care, OB/neonatology, nursing, and pharmacy experts as needed.
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Causation analysis: show how earlier admission/treatment would have prevented the harm.
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Damages documentation: medical bills, lost earnings, life-care needs, and impact on daily life.
Evidence that often wins these cases
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Missing or ignored abnormal vitals.
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Lack of serial testing (e.g., single troponin/ECG only).
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Discharge before key results returned—or after abnormal results without action.
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“Boilerplate” discharge instructions not tailored to the risk.
What To Do If You Or A Loved One Was Sent Home Too Soon
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Save everything: discharge papers, after-visit summaries, medication lists, return-visit paperwork.
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Write a timeline while it’s fresh.
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Do not contact the hospital’s risk management without talking to an attorney first so you know what to expect.
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Call us quickly: deadlines are strict in Michigan medical malpractice. We act fast to secure records and preserve evidence.
Available Compensation For You and Your Family
If you or a loved one was negligently discharged prematurely from an emergency department or hospital, you may be entitled to compensation, which in the law we call damages. Here are a few examples of damages that our medical malpractice lawyers pursue for you:
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Medical costs (ER, hospital, rehabilitation, future care).
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Lost income and earning capacity.
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Home/attendant care and life-care planning.
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Pain and suffering.
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Wrongful death damages (if applicable).
Why Hoffer & Sheremet Is The Best Medical Malpractice Law Firm In Michigan For Your Family
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Focused medical-malpractice team with deep ER/hospital case experience.
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Expert-driven investigations and meticulous causation workups.
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Trial readiness that drives fair settlements.
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Client-first communication—clear advice, honest expectations, consistent updates.
Representative Cases We Handle
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Missed evolving myocardial infarction after a single negative test and early discharge.
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Discharged sepsis patient with tachycardia and fever without IV antibiotics/observation.
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TBI/bleed after being sent home for “concussion” without imaging/observation.
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Pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection not worked up before discharge.
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Post-op complications (bleeding, infection) discharged with abnormal vitals.
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Postpartum preeclampsia and neonatal jaundice cases dismissed as “normal.”
FAQs
How do I know if the discharge was too early?
If you had abnormal vitals, abnormal labs/imaging, persistent/worsening symptoms, or were readmitted shortly after discharge, those are red flags. We can review your records and tell you if standards were violated.
Is a bad outcome alone enough for a case?
No. We must prove (1) the discharge decision fell below the standard of care and (2) that caused your harm. Our experts address both.
What does it cost to hire you?
We work on a contingency fee—you pay nothing unless we recover money for you. We also advance case costs.
How long do I have to file?
Medical-malpractice deadlines are strict and fact-dependent in Michigan. Contact us as soon as possible so we can protect your rights.
Do you take cases outside Grand Rapids?
Yes. We represent clients across Michigan.