Learning from Lawsuits

Patient Falls From Ladder on Knee--Discharged with “Muscle Tear”--Leg Amputated 3 Days Later

In today's episode we discuss the story of a man who fell off a ladder, landed on his knee, and walked—or so he thought—into an ER for what seemed to be a straightforward injury. He was diagnosed with a muscle tear… but just three days later, he underwent an above-the-knee amputation.
What went wrong? Could it have been prevented? And most importantly—how do we as clinicians, nurses, and providers ensure we never miss something so critical in our own practice?
Let’s break down the timeline, the clinical decision-making, the communication gaps, and what this case teaches us about responsibility, humility, and patient safety.

Bruised Ankle Leads to Colectomy

It started with a simple ankle injury. A young man sought care for what seemed like a routine contusion, but his provider suspected cellulitis—and that’s where things took a disastrous turn. What followed was a cascade of missteps that ultimately led to a colectomy and a grueling seven-week hospital stay.
Where did things go wrong? Could this outcome have been prevented? In this episode, we dissect the key moments in his care, identify the red flags that were missed, and discuss how we can sharpen our clinical judgment to avoid similar outcomes in the future.
Don’t miss this gripping case study—because one misstep can change everything.

Charting is your #1 Defense...Why?

Your clinical judgment doesn’t have to be perfect—but your documentation needs to be. When a lawsuit arises, your notes become your defense. If you didn’t document it, you didn’t think about it—at least in the eyes of the law.
In this episode, we break down why thorough medical decision-making documentation is crucial, how it can mean the difference between a defensible case and a devastating lawsuit, and practical tips to ensure your charting reflects the reasonableness of your clinical decisions. Don’t let poor documentation put your career at risk—tune in now and learn how to protect yourself.

Missed Spinal Epidural Abscess leads to Quadriplegia

A patient came in with back pain—something we see every day in healthcare. But this case was different. Despite multiple visits and misdiagnoses, the true cause remained hidden until it was too late. By the time her spinal epidural abscess was discovered, irreversible damage had been done, leaving her quadriplegic for life.
In this episode, we dive deep into her story—what went wrong, the red flags that were missed, and the critical lessons we can take away to prevent this from happening again. Let’s learn from her experience so that no other patient has to suffer the same fate.

Teen Dies of Lymphoblastic Lymphoma 2 Days After Discharge From ED

In this episode of Medical Malpractice Insights: Learning from Lawsuits, we discuss the heartbreaking case of a 16-year-old male who died of lymphoblastic lymphoma just two days after being discharged from the emergency department. What warning signs were missed? What could have been done differently? We examine the key takeaways from this case to help healthcare providers recognize red flags, improve clinical decision-making, and ultimately prevent similar tragedies in the future.  
Tune in for an insightful discussion that could save lives.

Patient Dies After 2+ Hours in Waiting Room

In this episode of Medical Malpractice Insights: Learning from Lawsuits, we examine the heartbreaking case of a patient who waited over two hours in an emergency department waiting room—only to be found unresponsive and eventually declared dead. We break down what went woefully wrong, the critical failures in triage and patient monitoring, and how emergency departments can implement simple yet effective changes to prevent tragedies like this.  
Let’s talk about how we can do better.