West Boca Medical Center sued over woman’s death

“Barbara Masterson, 52, deteriorated from cerebral bleeding in the

emergency room of the West Boca Medical Center as hospital staff

unsuccessfully tried to find a neurosurgeon to perform life-saving

surgery, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in Palm Beach County

Circuit Court.”

According to the lawyer: “They refused to take any neuromedical emergency,” Cohen said. “The hospital knew this was a problem in advance and should have never taken her in.”

Now, that is a tough call. It looks like Ms. Masterson presented with slurred speech and right-sided weakness. There are many other possible causes that would not have required a neurosurgical evaluation – such as TIA, thrombotic, or embolic stroke. Unfortunately, she had a hemorrhagic stroke, which the hospital could not treat appropriately due to the lack of neurosurgical backup. If this suit has any merit, then ERs without appropriate neurosurgical backup would have to refuse any stroke-like symptoms – which would be a ridiciulous situation (via Rebel Doctor Web Log).