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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.
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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 |
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Read Previous Issues of the HPSO Special Edition Legal Case Study: Physical Therapist Edition |
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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 |
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Read Previous Issues of the HPSO Special Edition Legal Case Study: Pharmacist Edition |
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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 |
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Read Previous Issues of the HPSO Special Edition Legal Case Study: Counselors Edition |
March 2010 Legal Case Study |
| Blind Man Dispensed 50 Microgram Fentanyl Patches, instead of the Prescribed 25 Microgram Patches - Overdose Blamed for Worsening of Sleep Apnea - $200,000 Settlement. |
The plaintiff, who is blind and uses a seeing-eye dog, brought a prescription for two boxes of 25 microgram Fentanyl patches to the defendant pharmacy. The pharmacy dispensed the plaintiff two boxes of 50 microgram Fentanyl patches. The plaintiff was unable to detect the dosage error before using the medication. The plaintiff applied the narcotic patches over the course of a week as prescribed and suffered a debilitating overdose. In addition to extreme discomfort, confusion, nausea and lethargy, the overdose caused permanent worsening of the plaintiffs sleep apnea, necessitating numerous sleep studies and supplemental oxygen therapy during sleep. The pharmacy admitted the error, but disputed the damages. A $200,000 settlement was reached, according to a published account. With permission from Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts; Lewis Laska, Editor, 901 Church St., Nashville, TN 37203-3411, 1-800-298-6288. |
Search the Archives
Recently Posted Legal Case Studies
| DESCRIPTION | |
|---|---|
| Failure to Diagnose Ectopic Pregnancy - Loss of Fallopian Tube - Defense Verdict. | |
| Failure to Diagnose Ectopic Pregnancy - Loss of Fallopian Tube - Defense Verdict. | |
| Exercise Ball Collapses, Causing Man to Fall - L4-5 Disc Injury Necessitates Surgery - $250,000 Verdict. | |
| Man Claims Fall During Stair Training Following Lumbar Fusion - Physical Therapist Claims Date Alleged Was Wrong and Fall Didn't Happen - Defense Verdict. | |
| Illiterate Man Claims Prescriptions For Another Person Were Given to Him - Alleges Hospitalization and Kidney Failure From Medications - Pharmacy Claims He Indicated He was Supposed to Pick Up the Medication for the Other Patient - Defense Verdict. | |
| Man Claims Continuous Passive Motion Machine Brought to Home for Physical Therapy Was Not Assembled Properly, Causing Injury - Defense Verdict. | |
| Failure of Paramedic to Immediately Use Defibrillation When Man Suffers Ventricular Fibrillation During Transport - $195,000 Settlement With Ambulance Service - $80,000 Net Verdict at Trial. | |
| Neurologist, Hospital and Pharmacist All Blamed for Child’s Death From Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis After Being Prescribed Lamictal - Claims Prescription Was Improper and Excessive and Rash Was Not Properly Investigated - $1.55 Million Settlement. | |
| Woman Dispensed Wrong Pills for Coumadin Prescription Resulting in Stroke - Speech and Right-Side Weakness Necessitate Move to Nursing Home - $374,400 Net Verdict. | |
| Femur Fracture Blamed on Fall During Physical Therapy - Defendant Claims Fracture Was Spontaneous - Defense Verdict. | |
| Failure to Perform Timely Stress Test and Properly Evaluate Man With Chest Pain - Death - Confidenti | |
| Tramadol Filled With Avinza - Death - $750,000 Settlement. |
