DIC her former life. Athogh a nurse\'s failure to closely monitor a patient\'s a
ID: 356114 • Letter: D
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DIC her former life. Athogh a nurse's failure to closely monitor a patient's al signs can lead to a patient's injury or death, not every patient injury can be attributed this failure, as noted in the s made com- ke her made ain on dur- t she e her tead, an to utes ewis had Plus Wis following case. FAILURE TO REPEAT VITAL SIGNS Citation: Porter v. Lima Mem'l Hosp, 995 F2d 629 (6th Cir. 1993) Facts During an automobile accident, Liesl, an infant, was thrown to the floor of her mother's car. Rescue squad personnel examined the infant and found nothing seriously wrong. Liesl was transported with her mother, Mrs. Porter, to Hospital A's emer- gency department. Ogelsbee, an RN, took Liesl's vital signs and recorded them on the medical chart. She reported the vital signs to Dr. Singh, the emer- gency room physician on duty. The only observable sign of injury was a small bruise on the right side of Liesl's head. Ogelsbee reported this to Singh, who found all of Liesl's extremities functioning normally and ordered several laboratory tests and X-rays. He did not, however, order any spinal X-rays and failed to diagnose spinal instability. Ogelsbee did not repeat the vital signs during or after Singh's examination, claiming that she received no physi- cian's instruction in this regard. After reviewing the X-rays and laboratory tests, Singh discharged Lies ote at as nd 1-Explanation / Answer
I would have ruled in a similar way. Ideally, the nurses should have performed their duties. However, even if nurses recorded vitals again and reported abnormal breathing to Dr. Singh, the symptoms won't lead to an order for a spinal X-ray.
The main mistake done in this case was by physician Mr.Singh. He failed to recognize that there could be a trauma-related injury to the spine of Liesl. Once he had identified or ordered an X-ray for this, he could have requested nurses to immobilize Liesl and prevent paralysis.
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