When a medical emergency presents, timing is critical. In many cases, an individual's short and long-term prognosis depends on how quickly their condition is diagnosed and treated. In some cases, doctors fail to recognize signs that a patient is suffering from something more serious. In other cases, test results indicating this type of critical information is reviewed too late or not at all.

Most Ohio residents work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. There are some occupations, however, that don't allow for this type of work schedule. Accidents, illnesses and diseases don't care what day of the week it is. As such, hospitals and other types of medical facilities must be staffed and equipped to deal with any type of medical event, be it minor or an emergency.

A man and his wife recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against a hospital for failing to diagnose and treat a severe infection that resulted in his paralysis injury. According to the lawsuit, the man visited the doctor complaining of wrist and back pain. At that time, he was diagnosed as suffering from inflammatory arthritis and prescribed pain medication.

Finding no relief from the pain, he went to the hospital the next day where a doctor examined him and ordered several tests. He was prescribed additional medications and released. Later that day, the man's test results came back indicating he was suffering from a severe infection. Despite the worrisome test results, no effort was made to contact or treat the man as it was officially the weekend.

Over the weekend, the man's wife called the hospital twice to report her husband's high fever and deteriorating physical condition. She was never informed of his test results and was instead told to ensure her husband continued to take the prescribed medications.
On Sunday the man fainted and was taken to the hospital. His condition continued to rapidly deteriorate and additional tests were administered. By the time doctors determined that the man was suffering from a massive spinal infection, he had suffered permanent spinal damage.

Today, the man is a quadriplegic who must rely upon a wheelchair for mobility and his wife for his everyday care. The man and his wife recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit in which they are seeking to recover damages in excess of $5 million dollars.

Source: Courthouse News Service, "Kaiser Patient: Infection Ignored Due to 'Weekend'," Barbara Wallace, Nov. 12, 2013