perspective from orthopaedic trauma surgeon, practice ... · 26. we are embarrassed, angry and hurt...

Perspective from Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon, Practice President and Policy Advocate

Douglas W. Lundy, MD, MBA, FAOA, FACSco-President and Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery

Resurgens OrthopaedicsAtlanta, Georgia

Disclosures

• I have no conflicts to disclose

Perspectives

3

My Experience with You People

4

First Plaintiff’s Attorney – Adam Jaffe• Complaint: missed infection• Problem:

– No positive cultures– No documentation of infection– No documentation of antibiotics

or any treatment of infection– Patient healed at time of her

deposition in spite of no treatment for infection

5

6

63 yo ♂ kicked by a mule

7

63 yo ♂ kicked by a mule

8

Four months later, kicked by a horse…

9

Four months later, kicked by same mule…

10

Six weeks later in clinic…

11

Re-stabilized with shorter nail…

12

Lengthening the femur…

13

Lengthening completed…

14

Knock-kneed… (valgus)

15

Deformity corrected

16

Five months later…

17

Complaint

18

Negligence

19

How do we see this?

20

21

22

Bad Day Unrealized… At the Patient’s Expense

23

We take this personally

24

Physicians either…

25

This dramatically affects our practice

26

We are embarrassed, angry and hurt

27

This implies that we are bad or that we have failed

28

Plaintiff’s Attorney

29

Resurgens Orthopaedics

30Proprietary information of Resurgens Orthopaedics

MD versus plaintiff when it comes to settling.

31

Reduce cost

32

Minimize risk

33

Control perception

34

Legislative efforts

35

36