For more than 20 years, CRICO has analyzed claims and suits from the Harvard medical community to understand causes of error. We have learned that 67% of claims fall into four high risk areas: Diagnosis, Obstetrics, Surgery and Medication.
https://www.rmf.harvard.edu/Podcasts/MedMal-Insider-Home
Unclear Discharge Instructions, Patient Loses Foot
In a lawsuit naming the Emergency Medicine physician and a nurse, the patient alleged that a dressing was applied too tightly, compromising the circulation and resulting in a gangrenous foot, requiring amputation. Despite an eventual defense verdict, some lessons show how to prevent this bad clinical result and a five-year legal ordeal.