This episode reviews a malpractice case where a psychiatric patient boarded in an ED for over 24 hours was restrained in a prone position, sedated, and left unmonitored, resulting in cardiac arrest and severe brain injury.

Hosts discuss failures in monitoring, documentation, restraint policies, and the broader problem of psychiatric boarding, plus lessons for clinicians to prevent similar outcomes.

Welcome to the Learning from Lawsuits podcast, where we review real medical malpractice lawsuit cases so healthcare providers can learn from them.

In this episode a 62-year-old with WPW presents in atrial fibrillation; a nurse practitioner recognizes the case is beyond her scope and transfers care to the attending, documenting a detailed handoff. The patient later arrests after the NP’s shift but recovers and sues claiming PTSD. The appeals court found the NP not liable based on clear transfer documentation. Key takeaways: document handoffs thoroughly, customize templates with patient-specific details, communicate scope of care, and assign high-risk cases appropriately.

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.