Patient Suffers Permanent Injury Due to Positioning in MRI Machine
This case involves a patient in Rhode Island with a past medical history of joint inflammation. The patient's condition was stable and she had been managed effectively for several years under the care of her rheumatologist.
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Case Overview
Questions to the Emergency Medicine expert and their responses
Do you believe this patient should have been sent to a trauma care unit, where she wouldn't have needed to lay flat for an MRI to be performed?
This patient clearly needs an MRI study because of concern for cauda equina syndrome and the danger of permanent paralysis. Nearly all MRI studies of the spine require the supine position.
Since her spinal condition was known and well documented, was it a departure for the ER physicians to order significant pain meds to have her lay flat?
It is not at all unusual for people with back pain to have pain when lying down, in a scanner or elsewhere. Giving pain meds to assist the study when needed is routine.
About the expert
This board-certified expert has over 35 years of experience as an emergency medicine physician. He received a M.D. from the prestigious Stanford University School of Medicine where he also served as Chief Resident in Emergency Medicine. Elected as a Fellow to the American College of Emergency Physicians, he has contributed to California state and federal legislation on various issues including inter-hospital patient transfer regulations and funding for emergency medicine. He has published several peer-reviewed journal articles, textbook chapters, and textbooks on emergency care. His previous positions have included Medical Director and Chief of Emergency Medicine. He currently serves as an Attending Physician for a health system and a major university medical center where he also serves as Clinical Professor of Surgery in the Division of Emergency Medicine.

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About the author
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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