Dizziness, malpractice, and the otolaryngologist
| Autor: | Anthony M. Tolisano, Sungjin A. Song, Douglas S. Ruhl, Philip D. Littlefield |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
Databases Factual media_common.quotation_subject Dizziness Otolaryngology 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Jury Informed consent Malpractice medicine Humans 030223 otorhinolaryngology Retrospective Studies Adjudication media_common Plaintiff Medical Errors business.industry 030503 health policy & services Retrospective cohort study medicine.disease United States Surgery Otorhinolaryngology Medical emergency 0305 other medical science business Allegation |
| Zdroj: | American Journal of Otolaryngology. 38:401-404 |
| ISSN: | 0196-0709 |
| Popis: | Purpose To assess malpractice claims related to the management of dizziness in otolaryngology in order to improve care and minimize the risk of litigation. Materials and methods This is a retrospective review of the LexisNexis “Jury Verdicts and Settlements” database. All lawsuits and out of court adjudications related to the management of dizziness by otolaryngologists were collected. Data including patient demographics, plaintiff allegation, procedure performed, and indemnities were analyzed. Results Of 21 cases meeting inclusion criteria, 17 were decided by a trial jury and four were resolved out of court. Jury verdicts favored the plaintiff 53% of the time and a payout was made in 57% of cases overall. Average payments were higher for jury verdicts in favor of the plaintiff ($1.8 million) as compared to out of court settlements ($545,000). Two-thirds of cases involved surgery, most commonly stapes surgery. Legal allegations, including physical injury, negligence, and lack of informed consent failed to predict the legal outcome. Conclusions Appropriate examination, testing, and referrals within a timely manner are crucial in the management of dizzy patients to avoid misdiagnoses. It is imperative that patients undergoing ear surgery are appropriately counseled that dizziness is a potential complication. The analysis of malpractice literature is complementary to clinical studies, with the potential to educate practitioners, improve patient care, and mitigate risk. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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