Learning from Lawsuits

In this episode of Medical Manners, we share the story of a woman who came to the emergency department for abdominal pain. She was under the influence, declined care, and left—only to be found dead 12 hours later in a jail cell.   This case led to a lawsuit, but more importantly, it raises crucial questions about how we care for our most vulnerable patients. How do we balance compassion and clinical judgment when treating those we might label as “drug seekers” or “frequent fliers”?   Join us as we discuss the importance of slowing down, ensuring thorough evaluations, and remembering that every patient—no matter their background—deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for.

This episode reviews a medical malpractice case where a canceled CT angiogram and conflicting exam findings led to a delayed diagnosis of limb ischemia and eventual below-knee amputation. Hosts discuss clinical and legal lessons: confirm consultant findings yourself, escalate unresolved disagreements, document clinical reasoning, and empower patients to advocate for timely follow-up.

Three EMS units went to the wrong address for a cardiac arrest, causing a 12-minute delay. The patient’s heart was restarted, but severe and permanent brain damage left him disabled. The family won a jury verdict after years of litigation. Key takeaways: verify locations, use closed-loop communication, avoid cognitive biases, and remember that every minute counts—time is brain.

In this episode of "Learning from Lawsuits," we delve into a medical malpractice case involving a woman in her late 50s presenting with the worst headache of her life, intermittent vision loss, and confusion. Despite her alarming symptoms, she was discharged with a diagnosis of conversion disorder. Less than 24 hours later, she returned to the ER with an occipital stroke, leading to a lawsuit against the emergency physician and staff. Explore the importance of avoiding cognitive biases, such as anchoring and confirmation biases, which played a crucial role in this case. Learn why humility in medical practice and listening to patient symptoms are vital in reaching an accurate diagnosis. The episode also touches upon how gaslighting can occur in medical settings and provides suggestions on how healthcare providers can improve their communication with patients to avoid premature closure and ensure comprehensive care.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Learning from Lawsuits podcast, where hosts Katie Wyatt and Dr. Charles Pilcher delve into the intricate world of medical malpractice with a focus on real cases that offer valuable learning experiences for healthcare providers. In this episode, they discuss a peculiar case involving a failed urethral catheterization in a 47-year-old male patient with acute urinary retention. The case sheds light on the critical distinctions between a mere complication and actual negligence in medical procedures. The episode explores the facts surrounding the case, including the challenges faced during the procedure, the arguments posed by both the plaintiff and defense, and the ultimate decision not to pursue a lawsuit. Dr. Pilcher provides expert insights into the case, emphasizing the importance of proper documentation, understanding known complications, and the necessity of using appropriately sized catheters to avoid creating false passages. Listeners will gain insights into the standards of care in medical practices, the role of proper documentation, and strategies to defend against potential malpractice claims. This episode is an essential listen for medical professionals seeking to better navigate the complexities of their duties while minimizing legal risks.

In this eye-opening episode of "Learning from Lawsuits," we dive into a complex case where a seemingly minor issue with a contact lens was misdiagnosed as a stroke or migraine, leading to a legal battle. Follow the journey of a woman whose persistent eye pain was misunderstood by multiple healthcare professionals, resulting in a drastic deterioration of her vision. Join us as we dissect the miscommunications and cognitive biases that contributed to this unfortunate outcome. Discover key takeaways that can help prevent similar incidents in medical practice, emphasizing the importance of listening to patient complaints and taking them seriously. Together, let's learn from this legal case to improve patient care and avoid repeating the same mistakes.

In today's episode we discuss the story of a man who fell off a ladder, landed on his knee, and walked—or so he thought—into an ER for what seemed to be a straightforward injury. He was diagnosed with a muscle tear… but just three days later, he underwent an above-the-knee amputation. What went wrong? Could it have been prevented? And most importantly—how do we as clinicians, nurses, and providers ensure we never miss something so critical in our own practice? Let’s break down the timeline, the clinical decision-making, the communication gaps, and what this case teaches us about responsibility, humility, and patient safety.

It started with a simple ankle injury. A young man sought care for what seemed like a routine contusion, but his provider suspected cellulitis—and that’s where things took a disastrous turn. What followed was a cascade of missteps that ultimately led to a colectomy and a grueling seven-week hospital stay. Where did things go wrong? Could this outcome have been prevented? In this episode, we dissect the key moments in his care, identify the red flags that were missed, and discuss how we can sharpen our clinical judgment to avoid similar outcomes in the future. Don’t miss this gripping case study—because one misstep can change everything.

Your clinical judgment doesn’t have to be perfect—but your documentation needs to be. When a lawsuit arises, your notes become your defense. If you didn’t document it, you didn’t think about it—at least in the eyes of the law. In this episode, we break down why thorough medical decision-making documentation is crucial, how it can mean the difference between a defensible case and a devastating lawsuit, and practical tips to ensure your charting reflects the reasonableness of your clinical decisions. Don’t let poor documentation put your career at risk—tune in now and learn how to protect yourself.

A patient came in with back pain—something we see every day in healthcare. But this case was different. Despite multiple visits and misdiagnoses, the true cause remained hidden until it was too late. By the time her spinal epidural abscess was discovered, irreversible damage had been done, leaving her quadriplegic for life. In this episode, we dive deep into her story—what went wrong, the red flags that were missed, and the critical lessons we can take away to prevent this from happening again. Let’s learn from her experience so that no other patient has to suffer the same fate.

In this episode of Medical Malpractice Insights: Learning from Lawsuits, we discuss the heartbreaking case of a 16-year-old male who died of lymphoblastic lymphoma just two days after being discharged from the emergency department. What warning signs were missed? What could have been done differently? We examine the key takeaways from this case to help healthcare providers recognize red flags, improve clinical decision-making, and ultimately prevent similar tragedies in the future.   Tune in for an insightful discussion that could save lives.

In this episode of Medical Malpractice Insights: Learning from Lawsuits, we examine the heartbreaking case of a patient who waited over two hours in an emergency department waiting room—only to be found unresponsive and eventually declared dead. We break down what went woefully wrong, the critical failures in triage and patient monitoring, and how emergency departments can implement simple yet effective changes to prevent tragedies like this.   Let’s talk about how we can do better.