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What is the name of your state? Florida
My husband was bitten by a brown recluse spider 1 month ago.
He went to the ER and was seen given some antibiotics and told to return to the ER in two days. By the time he returned two days later the wound was much worst, still he was told keep taking the meds and return to the ER in 2 more days. At this point the bite was so bad he could not sleep or eat and I was afraid he would lose his leg, so I got him in to see another doctor. This doctor said the Dr. at the ER was wrong in his treatment (he should have been admitted and put on I.V. antibiotics) took a culture and gave him the right meds. Within 24 hours you could start to see a improvement. The culture came back and the Dr. said if my husband had not been given the right antibiotics he could have died the bactria in the wound was a very nasty one that does not respond to what the ER Dr gave. It looks hopeful that he will not have any long term damage, but will have a bad scar and a long recovery.
Does he have a case against the ER?

[ellencee]

cat2young
Treatment for these spider bites varies and the person's response to treatment is one of the variables. I don't know of anyone who has received such a bite that did not develop a terrible infection, severe pain, and a resulting scar.
I received such a bite above my left eyebrow two years ago while working with a friend in one of her flower beds. I received antibiotics by mouth and medication to control the swelling. The wound left a deep scar that was surgically corrected (plastic surgery) a year later. I promise you, the pain and the swelling and the discoloration was substantial; I thought I was going to die and if I survived, I would have no face. This summer, the same friend, in the same area of her property was received a bite above her ankle, on the lower part of her leg. She received antibiotics by mouth and yet the wound worsened; she opted to be treated with medication for leprosy. I thought she was nuts and ought to see a poisonous-bite specialist, but she has healed better than I expected and will have plastic surgery on the scar next year.
The reason for the year's delay between spider bite and plastic surgery is to allow the body to fill in the scar as much as possible.

I've shared this information with you so that you can see that your husband probably did not suffer damages above the normal damage from this type of arachnid insult.

Without a damage that would not have occurred 'but for' the acts of the physician, there is no cause for recovery of damages.

You and your husband were wise to see another physician in this situation and I'm glad you were assertive and aggressive in obtaining the treatment he needed.

Best wishes for a full recovery.