Question

Jeanette, an 80-year-old widow, called her physician early one morning complaining of shortness of breath. She spoke to the office receptionist who asked if she was having any other difficulty. Jeanette said no. The receptionist said she would give the message to the doctor.

The doctor’s office was extremely busy that October day giving out flu shots. The receptionist immediately became busy answering telephone calls and admitting a long line of patients waiting for their annual flu shot. The telephone message from Jeanette was left unnoticed on the front office desk for several hours and was then placed on the physician’s desk with other messages.

Jeanette became so exhausted from her shortness of breath that she fell asleep. When she awoke in the afternoon she could not catch her breath. She called her neighbor and just said, “Help.” Paramedics arrived at Jeanette’s home shortly after the neighbor called 911 and found Jeanette to be unresponsive. She was taken to the local emergency room where she was diagnosed and treated for pneumonia and congestive heart failure. The emergency room staff tried to determine who her personal physician was, but Jeanette had no personal belongings or medical information with her. She never regained consciousness and died that evening.

When her neighbor went over to Jeanette’s home that evening to feed the cat, the noticed the light on the phone’s answering machine. The doctor had returned Jeanette’s call at 5:00pm. She apologized for not calling sooner

Is the physician at fault? is anyone on the physician's staff at fault?

Answer 1

This condition shows that for the condition of Jeanette's the receptionist is more responsible than the physician , Because shortness of breath is an emergency situation in which she needs immediate inform to the physician and provide medical help to the patient and prevent her from complications of other respiratory problems.but the management is also responsible Because the work load is very much on the receptionist so for emergency condition an assistant also appointed who immediately inform the physician about such kind of patients.the patient inform about her condition in early morning but physician reply after many hours,so the physician needs to collect information at a regular intervals.

Answer 2

I can not answer

Answer 3

I donot known

Answer 4

I donot known