How do you suffer a fall and they don’t take an x-ray or MRI? How do they dare call themselves practicing medicine? Geez, I went to the ER with some kind of unexplained pain and they’re doing all kinds of imaging. And that’s just for pain, I’m sure if I’d said I’d fallen, I’d be in front of an x-ray machine in minutes.
I understand trying to save money, but don’t you try to find out what’s wrong with the patient, and then try to save money via various treatment options? I’m not calling for Obamacare here, I’m just suggesting that if cost cutting is the primary motive, there are ways to do it.
The ways things are going over there, I think I’d rather get sick in Mexico or Costa Rica than in England.
exactly right, cause if the ER doc had "missed" a fracture, you'd sue his ass off. Even if they x-ray you, they will tell you, at least the good ones, that you may have a break that isn't seen and to return for a repeat film if pain continues.
This old lady probably didn't meet criteria for x-ray and/or CT scan of the neck. Not uncommon to miss cervical fractures in infants and the elderly. A high index of suspicion and liberal use of radiation is the key to finding the subtle fractures.
The fact that they didn't operate on her should give anybody over the age of 65 pause because her QALY number wasn't high enough. Probably had a lot to do with no initial x-ray as well.