When time is of the essence, any delay in medical treatment can mean a worsening prognosis. If you face delays when your blood supply is cut off to a limb, it could mean amputation or worse, just like this man’s case.
A man who lost his leg has blamed the hospital where he was treated. According to the July 5 news, the man had just gotten off work when he was hit by a car. It was around 6:00 a.m., when the crash took place, and the emergency medical service arrived in three minutes. Within an hour, it was determined that the man’s leg was not receiving blood.
To rescue his leg, he needed to receive surgery performed by a vascular surgeon to repair the arteries and veins. There was no vascular surgeon at the Coney Island Hospital, so the doctors there called an emergency phone line to reach one at Kings County Hospital. While that line should have been answered before the third ring, no one picked up at all. The hospital left a message, and that time delay led to complications for the patient.
It wasn’t until 2:00 p.m., that the man was transferred to the other hospital for surgery, but Coney Island Hospital forgot to send his CT scan. A new one had to be taken at the Kings County Hospital when the original couldn’t be sent electronically. By 7:00 p.m., the man was finally taken to surgery, but it was too late to save his leg.
Delays like this aren’t acceptable, and the hospital is being investigated. If this happens to you, your attorney can help you review your case, too.
Source: New York Daily News, “Man who lost his leg blames Brooklyn hospital in a $24M medical malpractice lawsuit,” Daeh Gregorian, July 05, 2016
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