Urologist's Case
A urologist removed a cancerous prostate from a patient. During surgery the balloon that held a urinary catheter in place burst inside the patient’s bladder. After the patient regained consciousness, the urologist told him about the incident. He said the he had meticulously removed all fragments of the catheter balloon but cautioned the patient to report any untoward symptoms. The patient recovered without incident.
In your opinion, does the patient have grounds to sue either the company that manufactured the urinary catheter or the urologist who operated on him? Why or why not?
Usually for operations like this one you are required to sign a form or document telling the patient about the procedure and anything that could possible arise
later on. Since no injury occurred because of the balloon popping I don't believe he has the right to sue.The doctor did the right thing by telling the patient upfront about what happened, however I do believe that the manufacture of the balloon should be told of this incident. If something did happen like this to me, I would first try to sue the manufacture of the product then the doctor.
Case Study #2
You are a phlebotomist for a community laboratory, and you report to work on an extremely busy day. You travel daily from the lab where you work to the hospital to draw blood and then back to the lab. You have finished drawing blood at the hospital and are on your way back to the lab when you get a cell phone call that the hospital needs a complete blood count (CBC) and electrolytes drawn STAT for a patient that has just come into the emergency room.
1. Would you turn around and go back to the ER or drop off your current blood samples and then go back to the ER? Explain the reasons for your decision. I would drive back to the ER, this is a STAT order, those are usually given out for a reason. However if the blood samples I already have are STAT as well then you can drop those off first.
2. What does the previous question have to do with preventing medical malpractice lawsuits?
Something could possible make the patient worse, and that could lead the phlebotomist into a lot of trouble. It could also compromise the quality of the samples which could belong to somebody really sick which makes things worse.
In your opinion, does the patient have grounds to sue either the company that manufactured the urinary catheter or the urologist who operated on him? Why or why not?
Usually for operations like this one you are required to sign a form or document telling the patient about the procedure and anything that could possible arise
later on. Since no injury occurred because of the balloon popping I don't believe he has the right to sue.The doctor did the right thing by telling the patient upfront about what happened, however I do believe that the manufacture of the balloon should be told of this incident. If something did happen like this to me, I would first try to sue the manufacture of the product then the doctor.
Case Study #2
You are a phlebotomist for a community laboratory, and you report to work on an extremely busy day. You travel daily from the lab where you work to the hospital to draw blood and then back to the lab. You have finished drawing blood at the hospital and are on your way back to the lab when you get a cell phone call that the hospital needs a complete blood count (CBC) and electrolytes drawn STAT for a patient that has just come into the emergency room.
1. Would you turn around and go back to the ER or drop off your current blood samples and then go back to the ER? Explain the reasons for your decision. I would drive back to the ER, this is a STAT order, those are usually given out for a reason. However if the blood samples I already have are STAT as well then you can drop those off first.
2. What does the previous question have to do with preventing medical malpractice lawsuits?
Something could possible make the patient worse, and that could lead the phlebotomist into a lot of trouble. It could also compromise the quality of the samples which could belong to somebody really sick which makes things worse.