Question

analyze the potential success of a claim for negligence under one of the three possible scenarios. Include a detailed discussion of each element of the negligence claim and why that element is met or not met. Discuss the possible defenses that could be reasonably asserted by the doctor to each claim, and why that defense might apply. Lastly, include a paragraph describing which, if any, claim you believe might be the most successful against the doctor and why.

SCENERIO:

Following an automobile accident, a 46-year-old man was brought to the hospital emergency department by an ambulance. The patient seemed to be alert, was able to answer questions, and claimed to be suffering from a great deal of pain. The physician administered 15 milligrams of morphine intravenously. The patient needed blood but refused a transfusion. After being observed in the emergency department for several hours, the patient was placed on a medical-surgical unit for observation. The following morning, he was unresponsive, and he was eventually pronounced dead. It was later discovered that he had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse. The night of the accident, he had injected heroin and drank several shots of tequila and multiple cans of beer. He had not disclosed any of this to the doctors or nurses treating him. Several years later, his estate sued the physician, claiming medical malpractice.

Analyze the possible outcomes of the lawsuit under one of the following scenarios:

If death was the result of overdose

If death was the result of failure to administer blood

If death was the result of subdural hematoma

Answer 1

Possible outcome of the lawsuit of scenerio is,

1.If death was the result of overdose-
-morphine interaction with alcohol causes to enhanced sedative and hypotensive effect.
-before administering the morphine precautions must have taken by te physician and the hospital staff to prevent the complications
-the recommended dose amount for IV morphine between 2-15 mg every four hours for non alcoholic patient.

2.If death was result of failure to administer blood - during the automobile accident the patient might lost the blood excessively and failure of blood trasfusion leads to the cardiac arrest and hemmorrhagic shock.
-As the patient has been placed in medical -surgical unit for observation,close vital monitoring must be done.If at all any deviations of vital signs the necessary actions can be taken to improve the condition of the patient.
-when patient and relatives not willing for the blood transfusion,physician must explain the importance of blood transfusion and the complications of blood loss which causes to life ending issues.
-still if the patient and relatives are not willing ,it must be mentioned clearly regarding the unwillingness of blood transfusion and the awareness of patient and relatives regarding the complications which occur without blood trasfusion.
-proper documentation can be a defense for the hospital and the physician.

3.if death was the result of subdural hematoma-it can be detected by the CT scan and MRI ,then proper decision(surgery) must be taken if hematoma detected.
-even the report and results of imaging must be documented for the defense of the physician ,if everything done appropriately.