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Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

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aimeesue07

Junior Member
My husband was seen in the ER 3 times, once over night even and they ignored my concerns about the spots on skin & sent him home misdiagnosed. Finally one week later he went back because symptoms worsening and he was admitted & properly diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. He spent 2 weeks at home suffering after the initial visit to the ER & now recovered he is not blind but his eye sight is not the same & his eyes hurt sometimes. Can he Sue for pain & suffering & the vision loss that might not have happened had they listen to me &/or run more tests?
 


TheGeekess

Keeper of the Kraken
My husband was seen in the ER 3 times, once over night even and they ignored my concerns about the spots on skin & sent him home misdiagnosed. Finally one week later he went back because symptoms worsening and he was admitted & properly diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. He spent 2 weeks at home suffering after the initial visit to the ER & now recovered he is not blind but his eye sight is not the same & his eyes hurt sometimes. Can he Sue for pain & suffering & the vision loss that might not have happened had they listen to me &/or run more tests?
What state did this happened in?
 
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quincy

Senior Member
My husband was seen in the ER 3 times, once over night even and they ignored my concerns about the spots on skin & sent him home misdiagnosed. Finally one week later he went back because symptoms worsening and he was admitted & properly diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. He spent 2 weeks at home suffering after the initial visit to the ER & now recovered he is not blind but his eye sight is not the same & his eyes hurt sometimes. Can he Sue for pain & suffering & the vision loss that might not have happened had they listen to me &/or run more tests?
The state name is necessary but, when you add your state name, can you also please explain why your husband continued to go to the ER rather than seeking medical assistance from his own doctor. Thank you.
 

FlyingRon

Senior Member
Agreed SJ is not an emergent condition, unless it manifests itself by more than just spots (trouble breathing, or if sepsis sets in subsequent).
Further, there probably wasn't any immediately treatment that they could have done for him that they didn't already do (antihistamines, pain meds, and if there appears to be some infection present antibiotics). The diagnosis of SJ likely requires a skin biopsy that they aren't likely to do in an ER situation.

Even if they were negligent (which doesn't appear to be the case), the couple of weeks of discomfort isn't going to win a lot of damages in court.
 

cbg

I'm a Northern Girl
It is not the responsibility of the ER, in most cases, to diagnose the problem. The ER's responsibility is to see that the patient continues to breathe and that their heart continues to beat.

Diagnostic work is, again in most cases, the responsibility of the PCP or specialist who provides the follow up care once the patient has been stabilized. While there can be some situation specific exceptions to this, I see nothing in the OP's account that suggests that any such exception exists.
 

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