Failure to Communicate: The Legal Side

Abstract

Even when a nurse knows that a physician will not alter the treatment plan, failure to communicate essential patient findings, or even a substantial delay may impose liability. Goff v. Doctor's General Hospital of San Jose is a classic case. A pregnant woman entered the hospital and delivered at 7:00 P.M. At 9:30 P.M., the evening nurse contacted the physician to inform him that the patient was bleeding too much. The physician responded that the amount of bleeding, as described, was not excessive. He instructed the nurse to determine excessive bleeding by checking the perineal pads at timed intervals. The nurse assessed the bleeding accordingly, but did not take any vital signs. Although she judged that the second perineal pad check seemed to indicate excessive saturation, she did not call the physician again because, as she later testified, he would not have come.