Comments on: Doccantmakeadecisionitis

By: Spanky McShee

Spanky McShee — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:33:06 +0000

I had an uncle who died basically because the doctor couldnt make up her mind about what he had. I dont get why they cant just ask another doctor. Why do they feel they need to come up with it on their own?

By: LPN2RN2010

LPN2RN2010 — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:41:13 +0000

I would have continued pursuing antibiotics, to the point of nag, and notified the house supervisor, who have made the on call pediatrician come in.Dr. Punce was a putz, and so was the triage nurse the second time around!

By: Pat

Pat — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:41:51 +0000

I disagree that the nurses were equally guilty. They cared enough to advocate for the patient multiple times. Yes, they should have taken it further. However, the Doctor failed on multiple levels and was derelict in performing his duties.

By: barb2828

barb2828 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:26:09 +0000

I think the doctor is like alot of them I, they don’t examine their pt. properly, they go on nurse’s assessments. The doctor should be held responible for what happened, the child was in critical condition and something more should have been done. Also the nurses are the first line of defense for pt. and they should have spoken up and done more. If one doctor does not do something, you go to another. Doctors are not perfect, they do make mistakes, yes, but this child’s case should have been handled completely different! The nurses that took care of this little girl are just as much in fault!! Very sad case, and things like this happen every day. When these drs and nurses become to “busy” or that uncaring, it is time they find a new job!

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:33:19 +0000

Obviously, doctors are not perfect, but if they don’t know the answer they are obliged to find out. The Pediatrician gave him his cue, probably based on incomplete information. It was up to him to find out. It’s not that hard. The nurses tryed to push him, but he ignored them. Going over a doctor’s head is tough and potentially dangerous to their career. I would have at least reported to the Nursing Supervisor and let them take it further.

By: Cat

Cat — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:22:46 +0000

This is a case of negligence of a high magnitude. First, ER’s are supposed to “fast-track” patients returning for worsening of the same illness. Second, the child was clearly in cardiac and respiratory distress when vital signs were first taken and should have IMMEDIATELY seen a physician. This is standard triage procedure worldwide. An on call pediatrician should have been brought in from the outset, just from the information gained in triage. Either the hospital is equally at fault for not instituting policies in keeping with accepted triage protocols or the staff is fault for not following them. This is the whole reason for triage so that the most serious case are seen immediately and appropriate specialists are called in from the outset. That child should have had a team working on her, not a single doctor. A critical care transport to the nearest facility with a PICU should have been arranged from the outset. Such transportation, if not by helicopter, involves a team usually including a PA, respiratory therapist, PICU nurse or others depending on the condition – not just a lone paramedic in the back with such a critically ill child. This was FUBAR from the moment that child returned to the ER.

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:03:40 +0000

As a nursing student I’ve dealt with great doctors and horrible doctors. From what I read the nurses were doing what they could. A nurses hands are tied very effectively by the doctors. If the Dr doesn’t want to listen they won’t and if you call another Dr, you are treated like a whistle-blower usually. As unfair as that is, it is what happens. This is a heart-breaking story. Dr Punce didn’t check the nurses notes or the exam, obviously, as he didn’t note it, he also did NOT do a through exam. No matter how busy the ER is a general prelim exam takes 5 min, and as this story demonstrates, saves lives. I am more surprised at the Dr saying he didn’t know what meningitis is. This illness has been in the news for months now and a good portion of the general public knows of this illness and at least some of the symptoms, so for a Dr who STUDIED this illness to miss it is more than incompetence, it’s negligence.

By: What_The_Heck

What_The_Heck — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:49:00 +0000

@mjfan What the heck???

By: mjfan

mjfan — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:59:19 +0000

Patient is sick,…time to get to work. Fingers, dial that phone! Expert is on his way! Job well done!

By: cat

cat — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:44:46 +0000

@cupid: The nurses suggested twice that antibiotics be administered. He’s the one who kept CHOOSING to ignore all suggestions given to him. From the pediatrician right on down to the nurses. Yes people die, but this is one death that had the possibility of being prevented if he would have let’s say, asked someone to look up the disease, maybe actually have assessed the child and noted all her symptoms, or even taken a moment when he was asked a second time if they should start antibiotics. Every one is swamped in an ER setting and to me it sounds like the nurses were trying to do what they could. Honestly, any time I’ve been to an ER the nurses are the ones picking up the slack as much as they can. I don’t see that this was any nurses fault in any way.