Legal Issues

A doctor referred a man with an elevated PSA level to a urologist, but did not follow-up and ask him if he went

Ann W. Latner, JD March 11, 2010

It turns out that the patient had prostate cancer and died from metastatic disease.
 

When a patient refuses to follow advice, should his or her physician be held liable for adverse outcomes?

Ann W. Latner, JD February 05, 2010

This case revolves around a 63-year-old female cardiac patient whose open-heart surgery yielded an infection in her sternum.
 

Vasectomy Patient Fathers A Child, Sues His Urologist

Ann W. Latner, JD January 12, 2010

Mr. W, 38, was referred to Dr. R, a practicing urologist of nearly 30 years. The patient, who had learning disabilities, had three young children with various birth defects. Mr. W had been advised to get a vasectomy due to the high risk that any other child he fathered would also have birth defects.
 

Patient Blames Physician for Foot Amputation

Ann W. Latner, JD December 10, 2009

A noncompliant diabetic patient sues after suffering complications from untreated ulcers.
 

Inadequate Post-Surgery Care Leads to a Lawsuit

Ann W. Latner, JD November 06, 2009

A urologist was remiss in ignoring pneumonia symptoms in patient following radical prostatectomy.
 

A Patient Dies Because of Doctors' Assumptions

Ann W. Latner, JD September 29, 2009

A dermatologist finds out that a letter is the wrong way to communicate important clinical information to a referring physician.
 

Young Mother Dies After Missing Dialysis Treatment

Ann W. Latner, JD September 01, 2009

Complications arise when a diabetic patient with end-stage renal disease and respiratory ailments has catheter trouble.
 

Doctor Is Found Liable After Independent Exam

Ann W. Latner, JD August 18, 2009

A man on injured on the job is sent back to work after a mandatory examination. An incorrect diagnosis caused irreparable damage.
 

Patient Not Told of Ominous Finding

Ann W. Latner, JD July 13, 2009

A urologist is sued after not alerting a bladder stone patient to a suspicious lung lesion revealed by x-ray.
 

PA's Friendly Warnings Land Him in Court

Ann W. Latner, JD June 15, 2009

A coworker's widow tries to establish that unsolicited advice actually created a clinician-patient relationship.
 

Job Search



Do you have a challenging case to share with colleagues?

If so, send us a brief description so that we can consider it for "Case of the Month," our online clinical quiz.
Click here to contact the editor.
From Cleveland Clinic is a regular monthly department that reports on research, events, and other activities at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Renal & Urology News
E-Newsletters

Sign up today to start receiving one of three free e-newsletters from Renal & Urology News or get them all.
- eTOC (print edition preview)
- RUN Roundup
- Conference Highlights

Sample | Subscribe | Archive


Our World Literature Review department has information on the latest nephrology and urology studies from around the world.
Visit our Conference Highlights section for news from recent meetings, including our coverage of the 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
 Subscribe to the RSS for this page  [view all our RSS feeds here]