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Special Edition Legal Case Study


Healthcare Professionals and Medical Malpractice: A Case Study with Risk Management Strategies

Medical malpractice claims can be asserted against any healthcare provider. Although there may be a perception that physicians are held responsible for the majority of lawsuits, the reality is that healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, pharmacists and counselors are more frequently finding themselves defending the care they provide.


Physical Therapist Edition

Case Study: Improper Full Spinal Deep Thrusts

This case involves a physical therapist working in a private practice setting. In this case, the patient was a 5'2", 156 lb, 54-year-old woman, who underwent a hysterectomy and afterwards began to experience low back pain. Five months after surgery the patient sought treatment for her back pain with an orthopedic surgeon who believed she was suffering from degenerative problems and prescribed physical therapy... Read the Full Case with Risk Management Recommendations
 

Read Previous Issues of the HPSO Special Edition Legal Case Study: Physical Therapist Edition

Pharmacist Edition

Case Study: Poisoning From Incorrect Anti-Fungal Medication

In this case, the insured pharmacist received an order for the plaintiff to receive intravenous Amphotericin Lipid Complex. The insured pharmacist incorrectly supplied Amphotericin B. The co-defendant pharmacy technician produced the correct labels but placed them on the incorrectly selected medication... Read the Full Case with Risk Management Recommendations
 

Read Previous Issues of the HPSO Special Edition Legal Case Study: Pharmacist Edition

Counselor Edition

Case Study: Alleged Slanderous Statements by the Defendant Regarding the Plaintiff and Alleged Improper Reporting of Privileged Health Information to the Plaintiff's Employer

The plaintiff was a 52 year old practicing physician when he was court-ordered via the state's professional resource network (PRN) to see the defendant counselor for assessment following an arrest for suspected driving under the influence (DUI)... Read the Full Case with Risk Management Recommendations
 

Read Previous Issues of the HPSO Special Edition Legal Case Study: Counselors Edition



July 2009 Legal Case Study
Failure to Timely Diagnose Stroke - Neurological Injuries - Defense Verdict.

The plaintiff, age fifty-five at the time, began to feel dizzy in February 2005. He was also sweating profusely and couldn’t swallow. He went to an emergency room barely able to stand and was placed in a wheelchair and taken to a room. A physician’s assistant evaluated the plaintiff and noted his blood pressure was 221/91. The physician’s assistant reported her findings to emergency room physician. She reported the plaintiff’s symptoms as minor and his complaints vague. A CT scan was ordered and it was not conclusive.

Five hours later the plaintiff was seen by a neurologist who immediately ordered a state MRJ. The MRJ revealed a basilar brain stem stroke. The plaintiff claimed that he suffered permanent neurological deficit and required rehabilitation. The plaintiff claimed that the defendants failed to note his classic stroke symptoms. The plaintiff argued that a timely diagnosis would have reduced his injury by allowing the use of tPA therapy.

The defendants claimed that the plaintiff was properly assessed and disputed the ability of tPA to reduce the plaintiff’s injuries. The defendants specifically claimed that even if a stroke had been diagnosed the plaintiff would not have been given tPA. According to a Jury Verdict Reporter a defense verdict was returned.

With permission from Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts; Lewis Laska, Editor, 901 Church St., Nashville, TN 37203-3411, 1-800-298-6288.

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