More details to this question:
I Jan 2012 I was picked up by a ambulance due to being in severe abdominal pain and unable to move. I was taken to the nearest hospital. They treated me as if I were a drug addict. They did an ultrasound, claimed I had gastritis and sent me home with narcotics. About 36 hours later the pain was so unbearable that I went to the ER but this time at a different hospital. When I arrived there they told me I had appendicitis and that my appendix and perforated. Due to this I had to have serious abdominal surgery instead of a simple laproscopic procedure. I was in the hospital for about 5 days and the recovery time was a lot longer. I had to drop college classes and still pay for some of their cost. Would the other hospital be at fault for not catching this earlier and I could have avoided all this damage.
2 ANSWERS
The answer is probably yes. If you suffered additional harm because of the delay and diagnosis, and an expert would testify that you did, you may have a claim.
Answered on Oct 22nd, 2013 at 11:58 AM
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The first hospital can be at fault for missing the correct diagnosis of appendicitis. There is a four step process that the doctor should adhere when a patient presents with symptoms of appendicitis.
First, the doctor should conduct a physical exam, by applying gentle pressure to the painful area. When the pressure is released the appendicitis pain will often feel worse, signaling that the adjacent peritoneum is inflamed. Other signs your doctor should look for include, abdominal rigidity and a tendency to stiffen your abdominal muscles in response to pressure.
Second, the doctor should perform a blood test to check for high white blood cell count.
Third, the doctor should perform a urine test to make sure the issue is not a kidney stone.
Fourth, the doctor should conduct an abdominal x-ray, an ultrasound scan or a ct scan to actually "visualize" the appendix.
If your doctor did not follow this protocol he/she could be liable for your damages.
Answered on Oct 01st, 2013 at 9:55 AM