How to discharge a patient in 2 easy steps(and get sued in the process)

[Just Plain Ruff]

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/crime/nc-mother-says-hospital-security-discharged-her-dead-son-being-unresponsive#

Doesn't look good for this security company.

[island emt]

Worse yet:::

I bet the Taxi driver got stiffed on the fare..... :-}

[scubanurse]

Worse yet:::

I bet the Taxi driver got stiffed on the fare..... :-}

[ERDoc]

Worse yet:::

I bet the Taxi driver got stiffed on the fare..... :-}

Ha ha ha ha. Not to mention he was out of a ride (his paycheck) for 4 hours.

[WolfmanHarris]

I was prepared to read that the patient was homeless or otherwise disenfranchised, history of psych and/or substance abuse who was a frequent visitor to ED. Not because it excuses the behaviour but because I understand where that callousness and complacency can come from.

I was surprised to find a pt. with such a significant history. I don't understand the decisions and multiple opportunities for someone to intervene at multiple levels of care and how they were all missed.

Speaks to a potentially sick organizational culture where one clinician can have this patient escorted out for lack of cooperation and multiple other providers can witness it, have misgivings and not feel comfortable to speak up.

[Mateo_1387]

Seems like they need to go after the hospital for discharging him in an altered state. I really don't see how they security is to blame. And whoever the hospital staff is that expressed concerns.... they weren't advocating enough...

I'm gonna see if I can get anymore info on this.... it happened fairly close by...

[Just Plain Ruff]

This is very very bad mojo for this hospital. I'll bet that their team of lawyers are working on this one.

[island emt]

I'll bet there are a dozen malpractice sharks camped out on the stiffs mothers doorstep trying to sign her up.

EASY money.

[Aprz]

Speaks to a potentially sick organizational culture where one clinician can have this patient escorted out for lack of cooperation and multiple other providers can witness it, have misgivings and not feel comfortable to speak up.

This is probably why Crew Resource Management (CRM) is being taught in the healthcare industry now too, primarily due to people not questioning bad decisions or speaking up.