TY - JOUR
T1 - Delayed diagnosis of infantile meningitis. Medical and legal outcomes.
AU - Wenner, W. J.
AU - Lambert, R.
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - While the diagnosis of meningitis in the infant can be difficult due to the lack of definitive signs, a delay in the diagnosis can markedly increase morbidity and mortality. Eighteen cases of meningitis that were reported to a malpractice carrier over 75 months were evaluated for medical and legal outcome. Fourteen had a delay in diagnosis that was judged to have occurred due to substandard care. All had a poor outcome; one half died and the other half had neurologic complications. Four cases resulted in payment to the patient. Median payment was $1,100,000. When care was standard, no payment or legal action occurred.
AB - While the diagnosis of meningitis in the infant can be difficult due to the lack of definitive signs, a delay in the diagnosis can markedly increase morbidity and mortality. Eighteen cases of meningitis that were reported to a malpractice carrier over 75 months were evaluated for medical and legal outcome. Fourteen had a delay in diagnosis that was judged to have occurred due to substandard care. All had a poor outcome; one half died and the other half had neurologic complications. Four cases resulted in payment to the patient. Median payment was $1,100,000. When care was standard, no payment or legal action occurred.
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U2 - 10.1177/0885713x9100600304
DO - 10.1177/0885713x9100600304
M3 - Article
C2 - 1824448
AN - SCOPUS:0026212702
SN - 0885-713X
VL - 6
SP - 82
EP - 84
JO - Quality assurance and utilization review : official journal of the American College of Utilization Review Physicians
JF - Quality assurance and utilization review : official journal of the American College of Utilization Review Physicians
IS - 3
ER -