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Lisa was recovering from spine surgery, a routine surgery usually requiring a three day stay in the hospital. She had complications including severe leg pain and the inability to ambulate. Dr. Green, the surgeon, visited Lisa each day at the hospital. On the third day Dr. Green told Lisa that he would prescribe stronger medication to help with the recovery process and keep any infections at bay. On Lisa’s fourth day in the hospital, the surgeon did not appear, and Lisa’s pain became worse. When the nurse attempted to contact the physician, she was unable to reach him. Lisa was not seen for two more days and no new medicine was prescribed. On the sixth day a new doctor appeared and replaced Dr. Green. By then, Lisa had an infection, had to be placed on IV medications, and had to stay in the hospital longer. When Dr. Green returned, he asked why Lisa was on IV meds. He said he left verbal instructions with a nurse of a replacement doctor who would visit Lisa during the weekend. However, the replacement physician did not get the message until Sunday afternoon.
What could have been done to prevent this situation from occurring?
Who is at fault here? Explain.
What duty was not followed?
Who do you think should pay for Lisa’s extra stay in the hospital? Explain.
Expert Answer
What could have been done to prevent this situation from occurring?
In order to prevent the occurring of this situation , the former doctor must have informed other staff on the hospital about the situation of Lisa. If the doctor is not able to come to the duty, he has the morale responsibility to assign his patients to other medical staff and provide them the inputs about the conditions of the patient. In fact, the hospital must be having some replacement doctor so that the patients are taken care well.
Who is at fault here? Explain.
In this case former doctor and the hospital both are at fault. Doctor is at fault as he was absent from the treatment of Lisa despite knowing her situation an hospital I sat fault as it did not make any arrangement in the absence of doctor so that the existing patients need not suffer.
What duty was not followed?
No, The call of duty was that if doctor is not turning up to the hospital, he must pass his patients to other doctors and inform the management regarding this.
Who do you think should pay for Lisa’s extra stay in the hospital? Explain.
No, it was the negligence of duty and service from the part of doctor and the hospital thus the charges must be paid by the hospital.
