Overview

This page concerns an emergency neurological presentation at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in which the consulting neurologist allegedly failed to order contrast MRI of the entire spine and prematurely diagnosed conversion disorder instead of considering transverse myelitis.

System Kennestone Hospital
Fact pattern Neurological emergency in a healthy 18-year-old followed by failure to order contrast MRI of the entire spine and premature conversion-disorder diagnosis
Alleged harm Serious, permanent neurological injuries

Chronology

  1. Jordan Ellis, a previously healthy 18-year-old, went to the emergency department at WellStar Kennestone Hospital with chest pain, numbness, and weakness.
  2. The consulting neurologist, Dr. James Armstrong, allegedly should have ordered an MRI with contrast of Jordan’s entire spine and considered transverse myelitis.
  3. Dr. Armstrong allegedly did neither and instead prematurely diagnosed conversion disorder, a psychiatric condition.
  4. The delay in diagnosing and treating transverse myelitis allegedly caused Jordan serious, permanent neurological injuries.

Alleged failures

Dr. James Armstrong allegedly failed to order an MRI with contrast of Jordan Ellis’s entire spine.

Dr. Armstrong allegedly failed to consider transverse myelitis in the differential diagnosis.

The premature conversion-disorder diagnosis allegedly delayed treatment and caused permanent neurological injuries.

Entities

WellStar Kennestone HospitalDr. James ArmstrongMRI with contrastEntire spineTransverse myelitisConversion disorder
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