Comments on: Does lack of an evacuation plan constitute malpractice? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/04/does-lack-of-evacuation-plan-constitute.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/04/does-lack-of-evacuation-plan-constitute.html#comment-73895 Anonymous Fri, 13 Apr 2007 19:13:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/04/does-lack-of-an-evacuation-plan-constitute-malpractice.html#comment-73895 So what was her evacuation plan? Head to a local hospital?<br/>No responsible person should have been in the city the day before the hurricane hit. Those with substantial medical needs (e.g. home ventilator) should have left days earlier to secure the uninterrupted care required by chronic health conditions.<br/>But then there's no money in personal responsibility; though in this case the reward for personal initiative might have been life. So what was her evacuation plan? Head to a local hospital?
No responsible person should have been in the city the day before the hurricane hit. Those with substantial medical needs (e.g. home ventilator) should have left days earlier to secure the uninterrupted care required by chronic health conditions.
But then there’s no money in personal responsibility; though in this case the reward for personal initiative might have been life.

]]> By: Dr Scotthttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/04/does-lack-of-evacuation-plan-constitute.html#comment-73879 Dr Scott Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:44:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/04/does-lack-of-an-evacuation-plan-constitute-malpractice.html#comment-73879 I assume the plaintiffs are also suing the Army Corps of Engineers, the state of Louisiana, the city of New Orleans, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for their role in the "malpractice" as well.<br/><br/>(Responsibility? Check. Injury? Check. Failure to meet appropriate standards, causing said injury? Check. Sounds like potential malpractice to me.)<br/><br/>Oh, wait, that's right. They can't sue the government. So they'll just go after the hospital instead. After all, someone must pay. I assume the plaintiffs are also suing the Army Corps of Engineers, the state of Louisiana, the city of New Orleans, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for their role in the “malpractice” as well.

(Responsibility? Check. Injury? Check. Failure to meet appropriate standards, causing said injury? Check. Sounds like potential malpractice to me.)

Oh, wait, that’s right. They can’t sue the government. So they’ll just go after the hospital instead. After all, someone must pay.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/04/does-lack-of-evacuation-plan-constitute.html#comment-73874 Anonymous Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:01:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/04/does-lack-of-an-evacuation-plan-constitute-malpractice.html#comment-73874 If hospital succeeds in making this a med mal case, but then loses, then med mal rates go up. If they fail, then it opens medical facilites up to more torts that fall out of their med mal insurance and out of the cap. For doctors and hospitals in Louisiana it is "Heads you win and tails I lose." If hospital succeeds in making this a med mal case, but then loses, then med mal rates go up. If they fail, then it opens medical facilites up to more torts that fall out of their med mal insurance and out of the cap. For doctors and hospitals in Louisiana it is “Heads you win and tails I lose.”

]]> By: Justinhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/04/does-lack-of-evacuation-plan-constitute.html#comment-73868 Justin Fri, 13 Apr 2007 03:16:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/04/does-lack-of-an-evacuation-plan-constitute-malpractice.html#comment-73868 Heck no, not after hurricane Katrina. What do the sons propose was the proper course of action? To load the old woman onto a bus and start driving out of NO? The bus would have run out of gas fighting traffic, and no gas=no electricity for life support. <br/><br/>Maybe they could have helicoptered Critical Patients out, but that would have been a limited resource: who decides who leaves and who stays? <br/><br/>With a disaster like Katrina, what more can be hoped for than to sit tight and pray. Healthy people were unable to get out of the city. What chance did these patients have? Heck no, not after hurricane Katrina. What do the sons propose was the proper course of action? To load the old woman onto a bus and start driving out of NO? The bus would have run out of gas fighting traffic, and no gas=no electricity for life support.

Maybe they could have helicoptered Critical Patients out, but that would have been a limited resource: who decides who leaves and who stays?

With a disaster like Katrina, what more can be hoped for than to sit tight and pray. Healthy people were unable to get out of the city. What chance did these patients have?

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