Duty to treat - was Re: trauma-list Digest, Vol 40, Issue 14

[William Bromberg]

Patrick,

I hate to tell you this but good samaritan laws are VERY state specific =
and in many cases do not cover professionals providing service in their =
professional fields. It is my understanding that in some cases they have =
been specifically tailored not to cover such practice for fear that ED =
care would be immune from lawsuits (i.e. care rendered in an emergency).=20=


I too hold my duty to care for people close to my heart. I also have a =
similar duty to care for my family. If you don't think that those duties =
could ever come into conflict ask those Florida docs who just got a $214 =
MILLION judgement against them. As a trauma surgeon I have more training =
and facility than most practicing physicians in the care of the injured =
patient and I still could add very little to field emergency care. I am =
not trained in immobilization, I have no equipment (collars, splints, =
bandages, chest tube tray, fluids, etc.). I have no capability to rapidly =
transport a patient to the ED. Essentially the best equipment I have for =
the field care of an accident victim is my cell phone and the ability to =
dial 911 (not to mention a direct line to the helicopter). Now, I believe =
that I have a realistic assessment of my limitations as someone with =
advanced trauma training * what do you think the average opthomologist or =
internist is going to bring to the party.

The best place for me to be is in the trauma bay waiting where I can use =
my training and ability to good use. Out in the field a motivated =
layperson is essentially just as useful as myself and a trained EMT or =
paramedic is 100X's better.

Finally, adding the sign-off "Respectfully" to a comment that is sarcastic =
and disrespectful (e.g."So, what would be your excuse?  Have dinner =
waiting?  It's been a long day?  Don't want to dirty your slacks?") =
doesn't make it so.=20

Regards,
Bill Bromberg


William J. Bromberg
Savannah Surgical Group
912 350-7412