Leadership, Ethics, and the Law

Incident in the ER - Scene 2

Program Transcript

MALE SPEAKER: Now let's revisit the same scene. Only this time, the director of emergency services is able to report to me that the hospital's medical team made all the right moves and handled the emergency room visit of Mr. Jimenez and his daughter without any policy errors.

Our meeting precedes just as it did the first time, until she reports that Mr. Jimenez refused to be operated on, and his daughter demanded that the amputation be performed at once, or she would sue the hospital.

That must have been quite a scene.

FEMALE SPEAKER: Yes.

MALE SPEAKER: Then what happened?

FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, the nurse wisely intervened. She made a note in the report that the patient was disoriented due to his respiratory condition and that he only suffered from mild dementia. She informed Dr. Jason that the patient would be more lucid if he were transferred to award where he could receive proper care for as respiratory problem. Dr. Jason agreed and said that the wound was not an emergency.

The patient was then transferred to the ward, and he received antibiotics for the wound as well as for the respiratory condition. Dr. Jason has also arranged to consult with the infectious disease doctor in the morning to determine the level of urgency in the care of the wound.

MALE SPEAKER: Good move.

FEMALE SPEAKER: I agree. Even though the daughter was threatening to sue the hospital, the nurse saw the need to first determine the mental capacity of Mr. Jimenez.

MALE SPEAKER: So what's next?

FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, that's what I want to confirm with you so that we have complete transparency.

MALE SPEAKER: What do you have in mind?

FEMALE SPEAKER: My recommendation, following hospital policy, is that the doctor will talk to Mr. Jimenez and determine his mental capacity. He'll use the Mini-Mental instrument to determine a treatment plan. Bottom line, we want to make sure that Mr. Jimenez understands the treatment plan, its risks, its alternatives, as well as its consequences.

MALE SPEAKER: Good.

FEMALE SPEAKER: Next, I intend to talk with the family. I'd like to talk to the daughter regarding her role, if any, about her father's competency, and her alleged medical neglect or abuse as the custodian of his care. I've scheduled an emergency ethics committee consult, as well, for today. I would like a plan from the social worker, as well, to investigate whether we should report the daughter to the state for possible elder abuse or medical neglect. Her findings should be made f to the hospital as well.

MALE SPEAKER: Well, it sounds like you have covered all the bases. I think your staff has done a great job.

FEMALE SPEAKER: They have. It was a tough situation for any ER team to have to face, but they made all the correct ethical decisions. They kept the patient in focus. I'm proud of them.

MALE SPEAKER: You should be. Well done.

FEMALE SPEAKER: Thanks.

Incident in the ER - Scene 2

Additional Content Attribution

MUSIC:

Creative Support Services

Los Angeles, CA

Dimension Sound Effects Library

Newnan, GA

Narrator Tracks Music Library

Stevens Point, WI

Signature Music, Inc

Chesterton, IN

Studio Cutz Music Library

Carrollton, TX