Car Crash Victim Dies From Inadequate Treatment

ByJoseph O'Neill

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Updated onMay 19, 2017

Car Crash Victim Dies From Inadequate Treatment

This case takes place in Illinois and involves a previously healthy female patient who was involved in a severe car accident. The patient was transported to the ER where she received blood products, however the facility ran out of blood while transfusing the patient. The facility also failed to provide a physician with adequate qualifications to treat the victim, who’s injuries would likely have been survivable with proper treatment. There was also a delay in getting a helicopter to transport the patient to a properly equipped trauma hospital, with the patient dying well before the helicopter arrived.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1.) Do you treat motor vehicle accident patients?

2.) If so, how often?

3.) Is it reasonable to assume that the delays/lack of facilities increased the risk death?

Expert Witness Response E-007288

inline imageI treat motor vehicle accidents almost every day that I attend the trauma and emergency surgery service at my hospital. If the patient died from hemorrhage then yes, delay and lack of facilities contributed directly to the patient's risk of death. If the treating facility lacks sufficient resources and/or personnel to render effective care, then it is imperative that the patient is relocated as soon as possible.

About the author

Joseph O'Neill

Joseph O'Neill

Joe has extensive experience in online journalism and technical writing across a range of legal topics, including personal injury, meidcal malpractice, mass torts, consumer litigation, commercial litigation, and more. Joe spent close to six years working at Expert Institute, finishing up his role here as Director of Marketing. He has considerable knowledge across an array of legal topics pertaining to expert witnesses. Currently, Joe servces as Owner and Demand Generation Consultant at LightSail Consulting.

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