Emergency Room Expert Witness

Appendicitis: Failure to Diagnose in the Emergency Department (ER) Emergency Room
Physicians from Chicago

COMMON FEATURES OF MISSED APPENDICITIS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPT

Appendicitis is one of the most common surgical diagnosis made in the ER and the failure to diagnose acute appendicitis is among the five leading causes of successful ER suits, accounting for 15% of the total dollars paid out for ER malpractice litigation. It is important to emphasize that as many as 30% of patients with acute appendicitis have been seen previously and incorrectly diagnosed by a prior physician.

The classic case of acute appendicitis is most often only found in books, as a large number of cases do not have a temperature, right lower abdominal pain or other classic suggestive findings.

Such patients are often diagnosed as gastroenteritis, which is the most common diagnosis in missed acute appendicitis cases. Unfortunately, missed or delayed diagnosis of acute appendicitis results in higher perforation and peritonitis cases with subsequent higher complication rates, such as death, recurrent small bowel obstruction due to adhesions, impaired fertility in women, and prolonged hospitalizations. Consequently the emergency physician must consider acute appendicitis in every patient presenting with the admitting complaint of abdominal pain.

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There are numerous experts who are more than willing to provide testimony for medical malpractice and personal injury litigation cases. Finding the right one is crucial to the strength of your particular case.

Since 1983, Medical Advisors has assisted in the selection of expert witnesses in several thousand cases. Working with plaintiff and defense bar, we have provided medical opinions and testimony which have resulted in competent preparation and in-court support for cases involving medical malpractice, hospital negligence, personal injury, workers’ compensation and product liability.

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