Nursing malpractice
Why Postpartum Hemorrhage Cases Hinge on Timing: The Warning Signs Nobody Charted
Sarah had delivered a healthy baby girl four hours earlier. She was tired, a little shaky, and told the nurse she felt “off.” The nurse charted “patient resting comfortably” and moved to her next assignment. Ninety minutes later, Sarah’s blood pressure had dropped, her pad count told a story nobody had tallied, and her nurse…
Read MoreDangers of Assumptions in Medical Malpractice Case Reviews
Are you making unwarranted assumptions when you review cases? I walked into the supermarket right after taking my kayak on a 5-mile trip on a local river. There was a stiff headwind that day, and it took more effort than usual. After ringing up my order, the clerk asked me if I needed help to…
Read MoreDeposition Preparation for Nursing Expert Witnesses
The deposition conference room felt colder than expected. Maria, a seasoned ICU nurse turned legal nurse consultant, sat at the polished table reviewing her notes for the third time. Across from her, the court reporter adjusted her machine. The defense attorney flipped through a thick binder without looking up. Maria had testified before—but this was…
Read MoreSexual Abuse Cases in Nursing Homes: Hidden Challenges
Does the story behind sexual abuse cases help or harm your case? LNCs and attorney focus on the critical intricacies of nursing home abuse cases, as detailed in the chapter Torn Veils of Protection: The Hidden Challenges of Sexual Abuse Cases in Nursing Homes in Medical Record Analysis, volume 3. Deneene Bradford emphasizes the…
Read MoreSharing an Errors Story with Clinicians
Can your LNC practice involve educating by sharing an errors story with clinicians? I argue it not only can, it should. Here is a story I use for educating clinicians. The beginning of the errors story Two elderly Italian men with the same name were patients in an inner city hospital. Joe #1 was moved…
Read MoreLegal Nurse Consultant Report Writing: Delivering Bad News
Your plaintiff attorney client asked you to screen a nursing malpractice case for merit. You write a report that gives the facts, provides your opinions as to why the case lacks merit, and concludes by saying, “This case is a loser.” Your client receives the report, decides not to pursue the claim, and mails the…
Read MoreMedication Errors and Interruptions
How do medication errors occur? Think about the typical healthcare scene: The phone is ringing at the nurse’s station. The patients are putting on their lights asking for help. The IV pump is alarming. In the midst of this, the nurse is trying to give medications. A study showed that interrupting a nurse just once…
Read MoreAlcohol Withdrawal Liability
An attorney asks you to consult on a case involving a patient who is injured during alcohol withdrawal. She asks, “Is there alcohol withdrawal liability?” Dangers of delirium tremens Patients may be injured while going through alcohol withdrawal. Delirium tremens is the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal and occurs 3-10 days after the last…
Read MoreDropped During Transfer
The nursing assistants dropped during transfer a demented patient. They used a hydraulic lift while getting her into a wheelchair. There was a sickening thud as a patient hit the floor. Afraid they would lose their jobs, the aides did not report the incident. The next day, the patient had bruises. The daughter came into…
Read MoreNurse Practitioners: Expanding Role, Expanding Liability
New York became the 18th state to no longer requireexperienced nurse practitioners to have a written practice service agreement with a physician. Experienced nurse practitioners (who have more than 3,600 hours of practice) will be able to be even more independent. Nurse practitioners’ expanding liability accompanies their expanding role. As patients receive insurance as a…
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