Lawsuit blames ER nurse's refusal to accept patient for two deaths

acuteobrn · Sep 23, 2003

WoW now that is scarry!!!!

I am wondering however, why the paramedics listened to this nurse talking on a cell phone out side of the ER, could they not have bypassed this nurse and went straight into the ER? Seems fishy to me, she obvoisly needed immediate attention, how could that particular RN ignore something like a low BP? Just seems wild and hard to imagine. Also how long did it take to get to the OB pavilion? And what was done on arrival. I understand of course that this is protected information at this time, it just doesn't seem to make any sense!!!! How horrible for that family. On the other hand a spontaneouly ruptured spleen is extreemly rare, even if she arrived in ER, would they have diagnosed it in time???

Very interesting post!

SnowieRN · Sep 23, 2003

So.. if Im reading this right.. there was only 1 nurse and 1 Dr. in the ER? Hmm..

Oh .. Ps- doesnt the Ambulance radio into the ER if they have a critical patient??

Trauma Columnist · Sep 23, 2003

This just sounds like there are some details missing. First, why were the paramedics (able to start IVs and give fluid boluses) not doing anyting during transport? Why didn't they go into the ER? The nurse outside may not have even worked in the ER! She could have been on her break from another area.

Noney · Sep 23, 2003

I'm sure there is a lot more to this story. There is no way to know what happened form this article. We all know how onesided a news article can be.

Noney

Rapheal · Sep 23, 2003

I agree that there are many missing pieces to this story. The hospital and the nurse are being tried in the court of public opinion long before it goes to criminal and civil court. And with Hippa rules they are powerless to defend themselves until it is in court. At face value this type of journalism seems irresponsible. My heart goes out to the family of that poor woman.

roxannekkb · Sep 23, 2003

Originally posted by SnowieRN
So.. if Im reading this right.. there was only 1 nurse and 1 Dr. in the ER? Hmm..

Oh .. Ps- doesnt the Ambulance radio into the ER if they have a critical patient??

Yes, the ambulance usually alerts the ER ahead of time, so they can prepare. And in this case, they probably would have been directed to take her straight on up to L&D.

I agree with other comments on this, that there is a great deal missing from this story. Even someone with no medical knowledge or experience might wonder why they paramedics didn't just bring the woman into the ER, or phone the L & D that she was coming.

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · Sep 23, 2003

There is defintitly some information missing. After 25 years of ER, flight, and prehospital medicine, i wonder why the Medics were bringing the patient to the ER in the first place. Most facilites want OB patients who area over 3 months taken directly to OB. I feel for the family and hope that they find the information they need.

LPN-n-2005 · Sep 23, 2003

wow!!!

cwazycwissyRN, RN · Sep 23, 2003

Seems to be a growing area of politics in some hospitals. If a patient is pregnant they automatically have to bypass er and go to ob, regardless of the reason the patient is going to the hospital. Hard to know all of the details by this article. Hard to tell. I am hoping a turf war is not the cause of this. :confused:

fergus51 · Sep 23, 2003

Sounds terrible, but that is exactly why ERs are so afraid of pregnant women and send them straight to OB. It sounds like the woman needed surgery, and one nurse and one doc in the ER couldn't have saved her.