A pAtient is admitted to an emergency department at 2:30pm with complaints of severe mid thorasic back pain, numbness and tingling from the knees down since 10:30AM. The triage nurse recorded her findings as well as a temp of 102.9. The emergency medicine physician didn’t read the triage nurse’s notes and didn’t perform a neuro exam. Instead he concluded the patient was suffering from a renal or abdominal ailment. A diagnosis of epidural abcess was made 22 hrs. Later. Unfortunately, the patient, a twenty-five yo male was rendered permanently paraplegic with absent bowel and bladder function. Even more remarkable errors were made by others. Who is benefitted by the trial of such a matter. This occurred in a university affilliated hospital. The public would benefit from these revelations. The hospital would perhaps be pressured into attempting to change those circumstances which led to the tragedy. Yet the victim, depending solely upon the ministrations of his mother for assistance in the activities of daily living, would clearly benefit from an early settlement. Unfortunately, even when the errors are obvious and the results catastrophic physicians find it difficult to accept their culpability. Instead they point at each other. Hospitals are I’ll equipted to conduct the intensive investigation available to plaintiff’s attorneys. We have much to share in the interest of the wellfare of patients.
ply