Personal Injury Law

Nurse?s Mistake Results in Medical Error

By Steven M. Levin and John J. Perconti

A doctor considered to be an expert in pigmented lesions removes the wrong lesion on a woman who dies two years later. The surgical error resulted from a nurse who mislabeled the skin condition which led the doctor to remove the wrong lesion and neglect the one with melanoma. The article investigates whether the doctor is liable for the nurse?s medical error. Citing lawsuits from years before, judges consider the nurse to be ?drilled of habits of strict obedience? which ultimately report to their superior and thus hold the superior responsible.

For the full story, click here.

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on January 29, 2009 (boomark / email).