Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Involving Pediatric Trainees.

Introduction Pediatric medical trainees, like other medical professionals, can be held accountable for their actions and may be included in malpractice lawsuits. The aim of this study was to investigate the sources of malpractice cases involving pediatric trainees in order to inform the development of strategies to protect against such incidents. Methods LexisNexis, an online public legal research database containing records from the United States, was retrospectively reviewed for malpractice cases involving pediatric interns, residents, or fellows from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2021. Cases were included if malpractice occurred following the delivery of a newborn through the care of young adults up to age 21. Results A total of 56 cases were included, consisting of 10 pediatric interns, 43 second- or third-year residents, and 11 pediatric fellows as defendants. Seventeen cases (30.4%) led to patient mortality. Incorrect diagnosis or treatment was claimed in 45 cases (80.4%), delay in evaluation in 24 (42.9%), failure to supervise trainee in 22 (39.3%), trainee inexperience in 21 (37.5%), procedural error in 21 (37.5%), lack of informed consent of resident being involved in two (3.6%), prolonged operative time in one (1.8%), and lack of informed consent of procedure/complications in one (1.8%). Conclusion Malpractice cases involving pediatric trainees highlight the importance of adequate supervision by attending physicians. These concerns are not exclusive to interns and residents and necessitate action by all members of the healthcare team. Given the interplay of supervision and diagnostic accuracy, trainee education and faculty development should emphasize malpractice education and strategies to mitigate lawsuits to both improve patient outcomes and reduce the likelihood of future malpractice claims.

Philadelphia glaucoma detection and treatment project: ocular outcomes and adherence to follow-up at a single health centre.

OBJECTIVES: To determine ocular outcomes and factors associated with adherence to ophthalmic follow-up in a medically underserved population at a single health centre in Philadelphia. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. PARTICIPANTS: Patients from a community glaucoma screening program. METHODS: Chart review was conducted for participants who received a complete eye examination at the Philadelphia District Health Center 5 between January 1, 2012 and May 31, 2014 within the Philadelphia Glaucoma Detection and Treatment Project. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors related to ophthalmic follow-up adherence. RESULTS: A total of 249 participants completed an eye examination (mean age = 57.7 ± 6.9 years). Most were African American (n = 220; 88.4%); female (n = 129; 51.8%). Forty-seven participants (18.9%) received glaucoma-related diagnoses, 20 (8.0%) were prescribed ocular medication, and 26 (10.4%) underwent laser therapy. Ninety (36.1%) attended their recommended follow-up eye examination at the health centre. Glaucoma-related diagnosis (p ≤ 0.001), recommendation of a 4- to 6-week follow-up period (p < 0.001), prescribed eye drops (p < 0.001), or received laser therapy (p = 0.047) were factors most predictive of ophthalmic follow-up adherence. CONCLUSIONS: The collaborative effort of eye care providers and health centres offers an important opportunity to detect, treat, and manage glaucoma and other ocular pathology in medically underserved communities. Having a glaucoma-related diagnosis, initiating treatment, and scheduling regular follow-up visits are the most important factors influencing adherence to follow-up eye appointments.

Etiologies of Pediatric Cervical Lymphadenopathy: A Systematic Review of 2687 Subjects.

Background. Cervical lymphadenopathy in children is common and its etiologies diverse. No systematic review of the differential diagnosis of pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy has been conducted. Objective. To determine the prevalence rate of specific etiologies of pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy. Data Sources. EMBASE, PubMed, and SCOPUS were searched electronically. Bibliographies of select studies were reviewed as well. Study Selection. (1) Any clinical trial, observational study, or cross-sectional case series with 10 or more subjects that included delineation of etiologies and/or associated conditions with lymphadenopathy; (2) subjects aged 0 to 21 years with enlarged lymphoid tissue on body; (3) lymphadenopathy was confirmed by clinical evaluation; and (4) no specific diagnoses were excluded. Data Extraction. Year and location of publication, definition of lymphadenopathy, percentage of lymphadenopathy that was cervical, total number of subjects, gender distribution of subjects, age range of patients, and specific etiologies. Results. Of the 1790 studies, 7 studies that were combined resulted in 2687 subjects that were selected. Nonspecific benign etiology was the most common diagnosis occurring at a rate of 67.8%. Epstein-Barr virus was the next most prevalent (8.86%), followed by malignancy (4.69%) and granulomatous disease (4.06%). The most common malignancy etiology was non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (46.0%), and the most common granulomatous disease was tuberculosis (73.4%). Conclusions. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides a rate-based differential diagnosis of pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy. Although the most common causes of pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy are nonspecific, the etiologies are diverse. Rates and credible intervals are provided to enable a probability-based diagnostic approach to palpable cervical lymphadenopathy in this age group.