Emergency Medicine - Adult and Pediatric
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Protections Enacted for ED Providers, but ‘Liability Changes Every Day’
There are states that have issued various executive orders to reduce liability of providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but legal protections continue to evolve. Liability changes every day, depending on the developments in the regulatory infrastructure.
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Crisis Changes Priorities — and Possibly Clinical Practices
There is a tipping point for any emergency department (ED) when the normal standard of care is no longer possible. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, some EDs are coming close to reaching it.
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ED Care Different During COVID-19; So Is the Legal Standard of Care
Liability for emergency department providers during the COVID-19 pandemic is different than normal times. It changes priorities somewhat. Care is geared more toward the public’s best interest, rather than doing the most good for one individual.
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Plaintiff Allegation: ‘I Should Have Been Tested’
Thousands of people have presented to emergency departments (EDs) with symptoms consistent with coronavirus. Not all have been tested for various reasons. Of those who were tested, some were discharged from the ED and never received the results. Of that group, some will die.
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Malpractice Risks During COVID-19: ‘Really Enormous’ for ED Providers
Emergency department (ED) providers, overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and at risk for contracting the virus, also face potential legal exposure. Many emergency physicians (EPs), ED nurses, and hospitals are stretching beyond a breaking point. What it all means for ED malpractice claims remains to be seen.
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Pain Management in the Emergency Department: Opioids and Alternative Pain Management Therapies
Opioid therapy can be an effective form of pain management in the ED for acute painful conditions. The risk of addiction and abuse should be considered in every case. Alternatives to opioid therapy include systemic agents, such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs, lidocaine, alpha agonists, anticonvulsants, ketamine, corticosteroids, and local and regional anesthesia.
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Trauma in Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Overview
The authors provide a concise, comprehensive overview of the unique anatomic and physiologic features of pregnancy, as well as modifications and considerations important for the management of the pregnant trauma patient.
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Vaping-Induced Lung Injury
In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted the association of vaping and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Although the number of new cases has decreased, new cases are still appearing.
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Diabetes in Pediatric ED Patients
Emergency medicine providers commonly will encounter children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, the incidence of both is increasing, and the acute care provider must be able to recognize the subtle and dramatic presentations of both diseases. Early recognition and management of both the disease and its complications — diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, and cerebral edema — are critical to ensure an optimal outcome.
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Plaintiff Expert Worked in the ED, But Only During Residency Rotation
Plaintiff attorneys frequently bring in experts with specific knowledge from whatever specialty is relevant to the condition that was missed or managed inappropriately. When an emergency physician saw a patient, he or she had to take the patient as a whole and consider every possible diagnosis. Unlike other specialties, emergency physicians do not get to pick and choose the kind of patients or complications they see.