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With an increasing number of emergency department (ED) physicians using ultrasound, are malpractice lawsuits also on the rise? Quite the contrary, according to proponents of ED ultrasound.
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In the case of 'Brewster v Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center,' the appellate court of Illinois had to decide whether a hospital owes a duty to a person injured by an off-duty intern suffering from sleep deprivation due to the hospital's policy on working hours.
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In the case of fulminant meningococcal disease, laboratory tests are not available fast enough to be helpful, and may be within normal ranges early in a precipitous course. Provide rapid fluid support and antibiotics immediately and obtain blood cultures with the initial IV placement if possible, but do not delay antibiotics for the sake of good cultures.
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Penetrating neck trauma continues to be a challenging subset of trauma care. This area is loaded with potential high-risk injuries and controversies about the optimal management.
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We are all aware of the negative effects of unnecessary antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is a current crisis in healthcare.
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The "discovery rule" plays an important role in many medical malpractice cases, including those arising from ED care. Under this rule, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the patient "knew or should have known" that a viable claim exists.
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To avoid legal problems for your ED during disasters, it's not enough to have a good plan in place--you must ensure that staff are familiar with procedures and follow them.