How to deal with potential lawsuit situations

[cf1989]

There is a patient that has been on my unit for almost two months now. He has a serious brain injury and has had multiple procedures done, mostly involving external ventricular drains that keep clotting, and is showing no signs that he will improve. In fact, his neurological status just keeps slowly declining. His wife refuses to withdraw care while the rest of the family wants to. She has been very critical of everything the doctors and my teammates have done. She has mentioned pursuing a lawsuit to some of the other nurses.

I have never been assigned to this patient. I really do not want my name on his record. I've never witnessed any poor treatment of him by my teammates. In fact, I've seen them save his life at least twice. I just really don't want to end up getting called to court over this situation.

Has anyone ever been in a similar circumstance? One where you just didn't want to get involved with a patient or a family member that was talking about lawsuits? What did you do to handle it? I feel like I must clarify that it's not that I don't want to deal with a difficult family member. She doesn't bother me. I also recognize that these can often be empty threats, but I really doubt it from her.

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

Do what you're supposed to do. Document your butt off. Do what's right by your patient. Ask questions of your experienced peers and look up information if you're not sure of something. Talk with the docs if you're not convinced that an order is right, etc. And make sure you have malpractice insurance, just in case the unthinkable happens.

Honestly, there should be no difference in the care you render this patient or the documentation of your care. If you have a high standard of care and you're committed to doing what's right on a daily basis, you shouldn't have to worry.

Not just the "mean" patients/family members sue. Sometimes, the nicest people turn around and try to nail you to the wall. Be ready for it, no matter how many warm fuzzies you feel between yourself and your patient/patient's family.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

EXACTLY what SoldierNurse said. Do not deviate!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Many threaten to sue few have actual cause. Document your tail off. EVERYTHING should be strictly by the book. Nothing but distant politeness and extreme professionalism. If I had a dime for every time someone said they were going to sue....I could have retired at age 35.