Medical Legal Visualization

Interactive Timeline: Sam Bond

Jane Doe

Event

Response

March

2008

    

Plaintiff Fell and hurt back

    

Plaintiff fell and hurt her back. She had a history of hypertension and cardiac issues.

Plaintiff Health

  1. - Back pain

Plaintiff
Health

September

23rd

    

First Appointment with Doctor one

    

Plaintiff had a first meeting with Doctor one, an orthopedic surgeon, to discuss her fall in March and her back pain.

Plaintiff Health

  • - Back pain

Plaintiff
Health

Actions taken by hospital staff:

  • - Doctor one recommends a lumbar MRI and lumbar epidural
  • - Doctor one refers plaintiff to see radiologist, Doctor two, for these procedures

Action
Taken

October

6th

2:05 P.M.
    

Lumbar Puncture for Spinal Stenosis

    

At 2:05, Plaintiff saw Doctor two for a lumbar puncture for spinal stenosis.

Plaintiff Health:

  1. - Back pain

Plaintiff
Health

Actions taken by hospital staff:

  1. - Doctor two successfully performed the lumbar puncture.
  2. - Doctor two discussed the risks of bleeding, infections, tissue injury, and transient weakness and numbness.

Action
Taken

5:08 P.M.
    

Plaintiff goes to the E.R.

    

Plaintiff started having extremely heavy continuous back pain, even after the cortisone shot from earlier in the day.

Plaintiff Health:

  1. - 10/10 scale back pain
  2. - Radiating pain into legs

Plaintiff
Health

5:40 P.M.
    

Plaintiff seen by Doctor three

    

The plaintiff was seen by Doctor three while in the E.R.

Plaintiff Health:

  1. - 10/10 scale back pain
  2. - Radiating pain into legs

Plaintiff
Health

Actions taken by hospital staff:

  1. - Doctor three gave plaintiff pain medication.
  2. - Performed Chest CT to rule out aortic dissection.

Action
Taken

10:48 P.M.
    

Plaintiff admitted to hospital

    

Plaintiff was admitted to the hospital by Doctor three to Doctor four and the primary care physicians.

Plaintiff Health:

  1. - 10/10 scale back pain
  2. - Radiating pain into legs

Plaintiff
Health

October

7th

11:00 P.M. 10/6/08 - 7:30 A.M. 10/7/08
Waiting for MRI

7:30 A.M.
    

Doctor two discusses case

    

According to Doctor two's deposition, Doctor two was informed by the nurse that the plaintiff was admitted for a recent fall (referring to her fall in March). Doctor two did not place an order for an MRI, but told the nurse and the radiology department to expect an order for an MRI.
If the order was made before 4:00 PM, Doctor two would interpret it. If after 4:00 PM, it should go to the on-call radiologist.

Plaintiff Health:

  1. - 10/10 scale back pain
  2. - Radiating pain into legs

Plaintiff
Health

7:30 A.M. -4:00 P.M.
No action taken

4:00 P.M.
    

Doctor four orders MRI

    

Doctor two had wanted an ordered lumbar MRI to be marked STAT, not in his name. Doctor four ordered the MRI unmarked in status (not STAT) with Doctor two's name on it to interpret.

Actions taken by hospital staff:

  1. - 10/10 scale back pain
  2. - Radiating pain into legs

Plaintiff
Health

After 4:00 P.M.
    

Decreased motor skill in left leg

    

Doctor one, the orthopedic surgeon, noted decreased motor skill in the plaintiff's left lower extremity.

Plaintiff Health:

  1. - Continued back pain
  2. - Decreased motor skill in lower left extremity

Plaintiff
Health

4:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Waiting for MRI

9:00 P.M.
    

MRI Completed

    

Nurse one completed the MRI at 9:00 P.M.

Plaintiff Health:

  1. - Continued back pain
  2. - Decreased motor skill in lower left extremity

Plaintiff
Health

Actions taken by hospital staff:

  1. - At 10:07 PM, the status of the MRI was being evaluated (whether to mark the MRI STAT).
  2. - At 10:37, Doctor four viewed the images.

Action
Taken

October

8th

9:00 P.M. 10/7/08 - 10:30 A.M. 10/8/08
Waiting for MRI to be interpreted

8:00 A.M.
    

Marked weakness in plaintiff's legs

    

Marked weakness was recorded in the plaintiff's lower left and lower right extremeties (worse than the mild weakness from the night before).

Plaintiff Health:

  1. - Continued back pain
  2. - Marked weakness in lower left and right extremity
  3. - Numbness in lower extremeties

Plaintiff
Health

10:30 A.M.
    

Doctor five reads MRI film

    

Doctor two found that the MRI had not been interpreted at all since receiving it the night before, and that it was marked STAT with his name.
Doctor two requested that Doctor five interpret the MRI film.

Plaintiff Health:

  1. - Continued back pain
  2. - Marked weakness in lower left and right extremity
  3. - Numbness in lower extremeties
  4. - Epidural hematoma

Plaintiff
Health

Actions taken by hospital staff:

  1. Doctor two told the physician that an emergency neurosurgical consult was needed.

Action
Taken

12:30 P.M.
    

Plaintiff can't move toes

    

Doctor six recorded that the plaintiff's pain was better, but that should could not wiggle her left toes anymore.

Plaintiff Health:

  1. - Controlled pain management
  2. - Numbness in lower extremeties
  3. - Epidural hematoma
  4. - Cannot move left toes

Plaintiff
Health

Actions taken by hospital staff:

  1. - Doctor six ordered for a CT and a neurosurgical consultation with neurosurgeon, Doctor seven.

Action
Taken

2:00 P.M.
    

Order for emergency surgery

    

After viewing the MRI, neurosurgeon Doctor seven ordered for an emergency surgery.