Assignment task:
Robinson v. Shah presents an interesting case combining aspects of both law and ethics. This case is one that relies on state statutes. You may want to conduct an Internet search for additional details on this case. After reviewing the case, please answer the following questions: Why was the plaintiff unable to sue her physician for malpractice? What legal remedy was available to this patient? What various administrative (consider both the health care facility and insurance company), clinical, and ethical factors could contribute to sponges being left in a patient's abdomen for so long? For example, discuss the dilemma posed by a managed care plan that would require a patient like Robinson to have a referral from the surgeon for a second opinion regarding the persistent abdominal pain. How would this type of policy impact the patient's outcome? How should the administrator of a hospital handle a case such as this once it becomes known that a physician with privileges at your hospital concealed such information?