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Pulmonary embolism (PE) is not an uncommon disease, and is easily misdiagnosed, resulting in litigation against emergency department (ED) physicians. This article will use legal cases to illustrate medical caveats regarding PE.
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An emergency physician (EP) caring for a 62-year-old man after a motor vehicle accident interpreted the chest X-ray as negative. The radiologist overreading the chest films the next day noted a left lung nodule, but the patient was never notified.
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Psychiatric patients boarded in EDs awaiting available beds present significant liability risks for emergency physicians (EPs) for several reasons, according to Leslie Zun, MD, MBA, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, IL
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Infectious diseases account for a significant percentage of emergency department (ED) visits each year and are frequent sources of litigation. A plaintiff verdict or settlement is usually based on a delay in diagnosis and subsequent substandard treatment. It is important to recognize specific infectious entities early to avoid medical-legal exposure. We present five cases of infectious disease malpractice that highlight pearls and pitfalls.
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More than 95% of shoulder dislocations are anterior in location.
Pre- and post-reduction radiographs are not required in patients with chronic recurrent dislocations who have dislocations with minor or no trauma.
Leverage reduction techniques may be able to reduce the dislocation without the need for opiates or sedatives.
Post-reduction immobilization is primarily done for patient comfort, not to reduce the risk of recurrent dislocation.
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Case 1. A 53-year-old female presents to the emergency department with a 5-day history of generalized edema, primarily noted in her lower extremities.
