https://expertwitness.substack.com/p/patient-declines-ed-referral-dies
Patient presents with dyspnea ongoing for past 2 days to a PCP clinic.
Sees a PA. PA tells the patient to go the ED.
Patient declines. Goes to work and dinner with his wife that evening. Found dead in bed the next day.
Clinic get's sued for 2 mill. Plantiff lawyers hound the documentation of assessment and instructions. Not declaring specific "parameters to go to the ED." Was this an "informed refusal?" Did they ask classical symptoms of angina?
Patient was not "adequately" informed about his risks.
Case goes on for 6 YEARS, goes to trial and found in favor of the defendant.
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Strangely, no ECG or autopsy in this case. Probably would have been a stronger case if they focused on the lack of ECG.
Moral of the story: weak documentation will put you with a 6 year headache. The plaintiff lawyer probably also bankrupt too