Essay Negligence Case Analysis

Negligence Case Analysis

This assignment gives you an opportunity to consider the facts of a case potentially involving claims of negligence. You will have the opportunity to analyze the possible claims as well as the potential defenses to any claim presented by the plaintiff.

The facts of the case are described below.

Following an automobile accident, a 46-year-old man was brought to the hospital emergency department by ambulance. The patient seemed to be alert, was able to answer questions, and claimed to be suffering from a great deal of pain. The physician administered 15 milligrams of morphine intravenously. The patient needed blood but refused a transfusion. After being observed in the emergency department for several hours, the patient was placed on a medical-surgical unit for observation. The following morning, he was unresponsive, and he was eventually pronounced dead. It was later discovered that he had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse. The night before the accident, he had injected heroin and consumed tequila and beer. He had not disclosed any of this to the doctors or nurses treating him. Several years later, his estate sued the physician, claiming medical malpractice. Analyze the possible outcomes of the lawsuit under each of the following scenarios:

• If death was the result of overdose
• If death was the result of failure to administer blood
• If death was the result of subdural hematoma

In your essay, analyze the potential success of a claim for negligence under each of the three possible scenarios. Include a detailed discussion of each element of a negligence claim and why that element is met or is not met. Discuss the possible defenses that could be reasonably asserted by the doctor to each claim, and why that defense might apply. Lastly, include a paragraph describing which, if any, claim you believe might be the most successful against the doctor and why.