Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Should Edith McQueen Sue Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center For Failing to Detect The Blade of a Knife In Her Head During An ER Presentation?


Edith McQueen was stabbed twice in the head three years ago. Recently it was discovered that a portion of the blade remains near her jaw. McQueen, of Jacksonville, Florida, plans to sue Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center for failing to timely remove the blade. Does this case have merit?


An X-ray of Edith McQueen identifies an object next to the her jaw bone. According to McQueen's attorney, Chad Roberts, the object is a piece of a knife from the August of 2005 stabbing. Three years ago when she presented to the emergency room, McQueen claims she was simply stitched up without any effort to determine if a foreign objected was still embedded.
The ER report allegedly states that the woman was treated and released the next day after the stab wound was "cleaned and sutured loosely." Apparently no x-ray was taken of her jaw.


McQueen returned to Shands because of headaches and was scheduled to have an MRI. A pre MRI x-ray revealed the blade inside her head. Roberts is apparently still in the investigative phase and has not yet filed a law suit on behalf of his client. So, do you think his client has a good case?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

This would be a nightmare running around with a blade near your jaw. No wonder the poor lady had headaches.

Anonymous said...

I don't see where there is any real damage. She needs surgery to remove the knife. She can have the surgery now. It's not like the Emergency Room at Shands put the knife in her jaw....

Sue the assailant not the hospital.

Anonymous said...

Wow, early birds.

Ok, I think they should have x-rayed her at the time of the initial visit. But so what? Did she really wait three years to start complaining about headaches? Couldn't she feel the foreign body? Didn't she see her family doctor for follow up.

It may be malpractice, but come on, I have seen a lot worse. Did you ever see the movie with Boris Karloff called "Frankenstein?"

Shell

Anonymous said...

The medical field tends to x-ray as little as possible due to the inherent problems with radiation. Typically, a laceration to the face presenting with no symptomology of neurological deficit (ie: nerve damage, muscle weakness), will be treated by cleaning the wound, suturing, a tetanus shot, and an antibiotic regimen.

This lawsuit is completely bogus.

Ms Calabaza said...

Shell,

sometimes one can't feel the foreign body, especially if you don't speak the language ... by the way, I think I dated Boris in the '80's ... though, I'm not sure ...

Anonymous said...

Don't know what happened to your photo of the x-ray but it looks pretty bad for the ER.

Anonymous said...

Ms. C.,

In between shoots, I just had to respond.

When I was in Europe, and dating in Rome, I knew it when I was feeling a foreign body. Now, back in the states, I can honestly say that other than on the set, there is not much feeling period.

Have a good week,

Shell

Anonymous said...

Even if there is liability, I see no damages!

Anonymous said...

What kind of cheap blade breaks like this?


Street guy

Anonymous said...

That's my cousin, and sounds like u guys are just making an excuse for medical negligence. Oh someone is going to get paid "cha ching"

Anonymous said...

Is this woman obese? X-ray does not clarify and if she was significantly overweight it would be less weird that a blade fragment could get "lost in the wattles".

Anonymous said...

It's all about the money, BABY