GENERAL PRINCIPLE: While not every post–procedure complaint indicates a serious complication, when a trained professional indicates that there may be a problem, the supervising physician has a duty to respond appropriately.

APPLIED PRINCIPLE: The patient underwent a fairly routine procedure–the removal of venous blood–performed at a blood bank by an experienced nurse. Serious complications that arise from this procedure are rare. Certainly, a small hematoma at the venipuncture site would not be unexpected or cause for serious concern. Under normal circumstances, the nurse could have advised the patient when she complained of swelling. However, in this case, the nurse felt that the swelling was greater than she had seen in years of experience. Therefore, the physician was obligated to carefully examine the patient and consider a potential arterial injury or an undetected bleeding disorder that may have required attention and possible intervention.

The physician's response was not only substandard care, but his lack of attention and dismissive attitude toward the patient and the nurse could be viewed as disruptive behavior that did not foster patient safety. The patient would certainly take into consideration the physician's lack of compassion in her decision to proceed with a lawsuit. While good "bedside manner" will not prevent every lawsuit, it is often a factor in the patient's decision to take legal action against a healthcare provider.

---

A physician's bedside manner makes little to no difference in a patient's decision to take legal action for an injury the patient considers to be the result of substandard care.    
FALSE

Concerns expressed by trained healthcare professionals regarding post–procedure symptoms deserve careful attention by a physician.    
TRUE

A dismissive attitude toward other staff members by a physician may be considered disruptive behavior that increases the risk of patient injury.    
TRUE

Back to questions