Overview

This page concerns an emergency-room visit to Piedmont Atlanta Hospital in which a CT reportedly showed a possible lower-back abscess, the radiology report recommended follow-up imaging, and the patient nevertheless was discharged without investigation of a condition that could lead to life-threatening sepsis.

System Piedmont Healthcare
Fact pattern CT finding suggestive of abscess followed by discharge without follow-up imaging or investigation
Alleged harm Risk of life-threatening sepsis

Chronology

  1. Laura Bennett went to the emergency room at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital with severe pain in her lower back.
  2. A CT showed a possible abscess in her lower back.
  3. The radiology report suggested follow-up imaging to confirm or rule out an abscess.
  4. The Piedmont physician discharged Laura without investigating the possibility of an abscess, despite the risk of life-threatening sepsis.

Alleged failures

The emergency physician allegedly discharged Laura Bennett despite a CT showing a possible abscess.

The recommended follow-up imaging in the radiology report allegedly was not pursued before discharge.

The alleged failure to investigate the possible abscess exposed Laura to the risk of life-threatening sepsis.

Entities

Piedmont HealthcarePiedmont Atlanta HospitalEmergency physicianRadiology reportCTAbscess
Back to top