Daniel E. Holloway
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Hughes Spalding Hospital complaint alleges failure to relay a normal x-ray before a splint pressure sore

The complaint alleges that a child went to Hughes Spalding Hospital’s emergency room for ankle pain. A splint was placed after a preliminary x-ray reading suggested a fracture. The next morning a radiologist found no fracture and discussed the finding with the physician. The physician charted that she would tell the parents to follow up with the child’s doctor and remove the splint. She charted that she had completed this follow-up. Neither parent received a call that day, and no one removed the splint that day. Two days later the parents brought the child to an orthopedic clinic for splint discomfort. A provider found a blister on his foot and a pressure sore on his heel. The complaint alleges the delay caused these injuries.

System
Hughes Spalding Hospital
Facility
Hughes Spalding Hospital
Providers involved
Bolanle Tokunbo Akinsola, M.D. / Emory + Children’s Pediatric Institute, Inc. / Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates, LLC / Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation / Emory Healthcare, Inc. / Emory University / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.
Pattern
Alleged failure to notify parents that a splinted child’s x-ray was normal and to have the splint removed
Harm
Alleged pressure sore and blister from a splint left on for two extra days

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging a physician did not personally tell parents their child’s x-ray was normal or to remove his splint.

Chronology

The complaint alleges as follows:

  1. On October 14, 2018 the patient, a child, went to Hughes Spalding Hospital’s emergency room for ankle pain, and an x-ray was taken.
  2. A radiology resident preliminarily read the x-ray as showing a toddler’s fracture, and staff splinted his left foot and ankle.
  3. The next morning, a radiologist reviewed the same x-ray and found no fracture. She discussed the finding with the physician, Bolanle Tokunbo Akinsola, M.D., at 9:20 a.m.
  4. At 9:24 a.m. Dr. Akinsola charted that she would advise the parents to follow up with the child’s doctor and remove the splint. She charted that she had completed this follow-up.
  5. Neither parent received a call that day telling them to seek follow-up care or remove the splint. No one removed it on October 15, 2018.
  6. On October 17, 2018 the parents brought the child to an orthopedic clinic for discomfort in the splint. A provider removed it and found a blister on the top of his foot and a pressure sore on his heel.

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following failures:

  • Dr. Akinsola did not personally tell the parents their son had no fracture. She did not personally tell them to take him to his primary physician immediately or to remove the splint.
  • The complaint alleges Dr. Akinsola’s breach of the standard of care amounted to gross negligence.
  • The corporate defendants are alleged to be vicariously liable for Dr. Akinsola’s conduct as her alleged employer.
  • The complaint alleges this breach caused the patient’s pressure sore and the family’s added medical expenses.
  • The complaint pleads gross negligence and attaches an expert affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1.

Entities and tags

Hughes Spalding HospitalBolanle Tokunbo Akinsola, M.D.Emory + Children’s Pediatric Institute, Inc.Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates, LLCGrady Memorial Hospital CorporationEmory Healthcare, Inc.Emory UniversityChildren’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.Pressure soreCommunication or follow-up failureDelayed treatmentEmergency department carePediatric emergency medicineRadiologyOrthopedics