Page 20 - Hospitalists - Risks When You're the Doctor in the House (Part One)

SVMIC Hospitalists - Risks When You’re the Doctor in the House

To follow is a summary report from defense counsel of an actual

deposition of a hospitalist who was a defendant in a wrongful
death medical malpractice case. See if you can spot the red

flags.

S UMMA R Y DE POS I TION R E POR T

BASIC FACTS

A 48-year-old male with a history of Crohn’s disease,
chronic steroid use, osteoporosis, arthritis, and diabetes

was admitted on July 19, 2016, to the local medical center
with a compression fracture at T5 with cord compression.

While hospitalized, the patient was under the care of a
hospitalist who consulted neurosurgery for evaluation.

The local neurosurgeon consulted another neurosurgeon
at a tertiary facility on July 31, 2016, who agreed the

patient needed surgical intervention and accepted the
patient for transfer. The local neurosurgeon signed off

on the patient’s care and any further treatment. The
neurosurgeon believed the hospitalist would handle the

transfer.

There was no bed available at the tertiary facility, and
the patient’s transfer was delayed until August 4th. The
patient’s condition deteriorated with increased weakness.

Once transferred, the patient underwent surgery which

revealed calcified ligament flavum with cord injury. The
patient expired four months later.

DEPOSITION SUMMARY BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY

The defendant in this case, Dr. Murphy, a hospitalist,

was the attending physician. Dr. Murphy testified that he

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