Failure to confirm diagnosis of polycythemia vera
In November 2007, a 40-year-old man was referred to an internal medicine physician by his primary care physician. The patient reported feeling weak and tired.
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Delay in diagnosing breast cancer
A 77-year-old woman with a history of cigarette smoking and COPD came to her family physician reporting a lump in her right breast.
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Failure to diagnose anemia
A 17-month-old girl was brought to Pediatrician A for complete vaccinations on October 20. This visit was documented as “vaccines only.”
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Failure to report misplaced central line
On July 22, a 64-year-old woman came to the emergency department (ED) of a local hospital. The patient had undergone back surgery five days earlier, and she came to the ED for a possible overdose.
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Failure to monitor thiamine levels
A 50-year-old woman consulted with a bariatric surgeon for weight reduction surgery. The patient was 5’ 4” and weighed 265 pounds.
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Failure to diagnose cornual pregnancy
A 33-year-old woman came to the emergency department (ED) complaining of bilateral abdominal pain, back pain, and shortness of breath.
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Failure to diagnose retained sponge
A 55-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital in New Mexico for a colostomy reversal.
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Failure to diagnose tuberculosis
A two-year-old boy with a five-day history of intermittent fever and stomachache was brought to his pediatrician. The child was diagnosed with a viral syndrome and treated with simethicone drops
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Delay in detecting melanoma
A 58-year-old man came to his family physician for evaluation of a lesion on his back. The man was a long-time patient of this physician.
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Failure to follow up on mammogram
A 54-year-old woman returned to her primary care physician, Family Physician A. The patient reported pain in her left arm, chest, and back that had continued for a week.
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Failure to diagnose rhabdomyolysis
At 3:20 p.m., a 3-year-old girl was brought to the emergency department (ED) with complaints of fever, lethargy, sore throat, severe leg pain bilaterally with decreased sensation, and absent reflexes.
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Failure to diagnose appendicitis
A 6-year-old boy, accompanied by his mother, came to Pediatrician A for a sick visit on October 21. The child had a five-day history of fussiness, sore throat, coughing, vomiting, stomach pain.
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