Problem
Based on this lawsuit example below, answer the following questions:
A. Give a brief summary of the scenario and identify which of the four malpractice elements were present, must be present, and why.
B. Offer strategies on how to avoid these constructs in your advanced practices.
C. Finally, comment on the medical malpractice trends of Nurse Practitioners relates to these malpractice examples. What would a reasonable NP have done, in your opinion?
A child visited a primary care center from birth to 9 months. At one visit (the case report does not specify the age of the child at this visit), the child's mother pointed out to an NP that one of the child's pupils was larger than the other. Two months later, the parent told the NP that the child's eyes did move in tandem. The parent claimed the NP said these symptoms were not important. Three months later, the NP tested the child's red reflex. The NP saw no light reflected and referred the child to an ophthalmologist, who diagnose retinoblastoma in both eyes. One eye was removed 3 months later and the other 3 years later. The mother claimed that the NP should have tested for red reflex earlier, which would have saved one eye. The mother admitted that one eye would have lost in any event. The parties settle for $2 million.