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This is the third part in the ED Legal Letter series on abdominal pain. The first two parts detailed common presentations of adult abdominal pain. Part four will discuss pediatric abdominal pain. This part discusses ectopic pregnancy and trauma in pregnancy.
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Emergency practitioners must understand patients rights regarding informed consent. Rapid diagnosis and treatment can be lifesaving, and any delay in obtaining consent may have devastating consequences to the patient. Emergency physicians have an obligation to make decisive and rapid treatment decisions. In addition, they must know when patients can refuse treatment and when consent is not needed. Finally, patients can and do refuse treatments that may be lifesaving. The emergency physician must ensure that the patient is competent to make these decisions. A mistake will bring the wrath of disgruntled family members who undoubtedly will bring suit for negligence. This issue of
ED Legal Letter illustrates the issues that emergency physicians encounter regarding informed consent and the exceptions that may apply.
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The emergency physician (EP) and nurse often may encounter patients with the chief complaint of eye pain or visual problems. Generally, the diagnosis easily is obtained and quickly treated. Unfortunately, a subset of patients will present with an illness that threatens permanent vision loss or impairment. EPs must have a broad differential diagnosis and structured approach in evaluating these patients to ensure appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
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This issue of ED Legal Letter is the second of a four-part series related to pitfalls associated with evaluating patients with abdominal pain. The series will analyze high-risk and life-threatening disease processes that ED physicians will encounter in their daily practice. Part two explores gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and the necessity of Hemoccult testing; the diagnosis and treatment of aortic aneurysms and abdominal trauma; and extra-abdominal causes of abdominal pain.
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By implementing a national smallpox vaccination program on Dec. 13, 2002,1 President George W. Bush launched the first vaccination campaign undertaken in the interest of national security rather than public health.2 He also sparked public debate about a program that bears potential safety and risk implications for medical professionals, emergency personnel, and the public.
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To provide you with critical information on the updated regulations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Thomson American Health Consultants offers "New EMTALA Regulations: Are They Too Good to be True?" an audio conference on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET.
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"EMTALA: The Essential Guide to Compliance" from Thomson American Health Consultants, publisher of ED Legal Letter and Hospital Risk Management, explains how the changes to EMTALA will affect emergency departments and off-campus clinics. In-depth articles, at-a-glance tables, and Q-and-A discussions of real-life situations are presented, and key differences between the old EMTALA and the new changes are succinctly explained.
