Emergency Room Visit

Hi all, I wanted to get some opinions on whether what happened to me during a recent ER visit could be considered negligence or malpractice.

I went to the emergency room due to intense, worsening pain from a known L2 compression fracture. I had a fall and was worried I had worsened the injury. I never asked for narcotics—I just wanted proper imaging (a lumbar CT or MRI) to check the damage.

Instead, I was treated like I was drug-seeking. My blood pressure was 168/86, which was never addressed. I tried to explain my concerns, but I felt completely dismissed.

What’s worse: they gave me an injection of Toradol, and nearly discharged me with a prescription for ibuprofen—both of which are contraindicated for someone like me with chronic kidney disease (CKD). I didn’t even realize how dangerous this was until I looked it up after the visit. I trusted them to know my history, which is in my chart.

I’ve filed a complaint and contacted my PCP, but now I’m left wondering: • Is this just poor care, or could this qualify as negligence or malpractice? • Has anyone else experienced something similar with chronic conditions being overlooked?

Any insight or similar stories would really help me feel less alone in this.