COUGHING DURING COLD AND FLU SEASON
A 39 year old woman with multiple complaints
Chapter 1 is the quintessential bounceback case; the reason we picked it as the first case. It is a patient you love to get at 5AM, a time when your ‘night-shift’ drive reaches the intersection of empathy and apathy; a patient who is straightforward, quick, and has a condition you can do something about. It is the perfect example of a well-appearing patient who is sick.
This doctor did just that – she received an albuterol aerosol and even was re-examined. Her wheezing resolved and she was discharged. As it turns out, the seemingly benign is not always so… she unfortunately bounced back… horizontal…
Additional deposition and trial testimony:
Judge complete opening statements
Full cross examination defendant physician Timothy Madison
Closing statements of defense and plaintiff plus jury decision
It is clear that the initial visit’s HPI was painting a picture from the outright of a prolonged respiratory illness. His neglect of keeping the differential broad was clearly seen in the cross examination parts of the trial. It’s hard to say what’s worse, poorly qualifying the chest pain (radiations, associated symptoms, etc.) through his own examination or neglecting to address the symptoms on the nurse’s assessment.