Physician, Radiologist Liable for "Locked-In Syndrome" Diagnosis

AUTHOR:

Ann W. Latner, JD

A jury recently found an emergency department (ED) physician and radiologist liable for failing to diagnose a brain-stem stroke in a patient who was subsequently left with “locked-in syndrome,” which is when a patient is unable to move anything except his or her eyes, yet the patient’s cognitive faculties remain intact.

Is the emergency department at fault?

(Answer and discussion on the next page)