A drunk complains about her ER discharge instructions

She was going to sue over hurt feelings:

An intoxicated patient filed a complaint with the city after a Denver Health Medical Center doctor issued discharge instructions telling her to not “get drunk and fall, causing harm to your head or body.”
Patient Karin Howe, of Littleton, a certified nurse aide, accused Dr. Yadavinder Sooch of issuing “outrageous discharge instructions” and said the hospital provided “substandard treatment,” according to an intent-to-sue complaint obtained by CBS 4 News investigator Brian Maass. It was dated Jan. 30.

Comments

Jose
“Do not get drunk and [insert stupid action here].” That’s inappropriate to write.
It would have been better to say “abstain from drinking alcohol”, but threatening to sue because a doctor makes a snide comment on discharge orders is BS.
Anonymous
I agree it’s BS to sue over this, but it’s also inappropriate for a discharge note to tell a patient to apologize for her rude behavior while under the influence and advise her to be a good mother to her kids.
Evan
The diagnosis included a hairline skull fracture, closed head injury, and possible traumatic brain injury. She spent two days in the hospital.
um, maybe this is really why she’s suing?
Anonymous
Good God! We as a society have become pathetic if we are sueing over something like this.
Anonymous
She’s not a drunk. She’s “sobriety-challenged.”
Evan
okay seriously? did you even read the article?? she’s suing because, in addition to a rude discharge order, the doctor failed to get a CT in a situation that demanded it and, lo and behold, she has legitimate head injuries.
Anonymous
The real issue is that after she was drunk and nasty to the ED staff, the
treating physician decided to “punish” her by releasing her with … what was it? “a hairline skull fracture, closed head injury, and possible traumatic brain injury” – all untreated. Tell me, “Kevin”, do you think that was enough “punishment”? How about death? Would that satisfy you?
Charles
The issue is, she is mad that she got called for showing her, well that does not matter. The treatment for her injuries consists of tincture of time. A hairline skull fracture is not an injury that needs be diagnosed as nothing is done for it. Failing to get a CT etc. did not alter her treatment. The subsequent admission was inappropriate and did nothing to get her well. After all, all that happened during her admission was she lay in a bed for a couple of days at great expense…she can lie in a bed at home for free. from an Ex ER doc…
Anonymous
Two issues:
The failure to diagnose the fracture. Did he fail to meet the standard of care? Did she suffer harm as a result? Unless the answer is yes on both counts, then there is no malpractice.
The discharge instructions hurt her feelings. Did he fail to meet the standard of care? Well, it is certainly within the standard of care to provide specific instructions to prevent further injury. None of the instructions would do harm if followed. The thing that looks most unorthodox is his instruction to apologize to those she hurt and to be a responsible family member. Physicians have a responsibility to minister to the body and the soul. His attempt to do so was entirely appropriate. She might have responded with reflection and repentence. The fact that she sued shows that she choose not to allow this to be a growth experience, choosing instead to shoot the messenger. The fact that his therapeutic manuver backfired does not mean it was not a worthwhile attempt.
I laud his courage in trying to address his patients obvious broader need. If only he had left some part of it unwritten, he would be better off. Unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished–especially if well documented.
Happyman
“um, maybe this is really why she’s suing?”
so, evan, for “hairline skull fracture, closed head injury, and possible traumatic brain injury”, what is YOUR required length of hospitalization/monitoring, and prescribed course of treatment??? a week? a month? exploratory brain surgery? continuous eeg monitoring? perhaps a one-year ICU stay at taxpayer expense followed by continuous life-long “rehab” or maybe nursing home stay?
As usual with the non-medical idiotic lay public, outcomes dictate malpractice, rather than deviation from standard of care.
Anonymous
The “Dr” Sooch should not be practicing medicine. If he wants to preach, go to seminary. His licencse should be revoked, and I hope the women he so viciously insulted got a FORTUNE in her settlement with the hospital.
He needed to learn his place BIGTIME, and FAST.
So does this Kevin MD guy appearantly

A drunk complains about her ER discharge instructions

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