title: Delayed diagnosis of infantile meningitis. Medical and legal outcomes.
abstract: While the diagnosis of meningitis in the infant can be difficult due to the lack of definitive signs, a delay in the diagnosis can markedly increase morbidity and mortality. Eighteen cases of meningitis that were reported to a malpractice carrier over 75 months were evaluated for medical and legal outcome. Fourteen had a delay in diagnosis that was judged to have occurred due to substandard care. All had a poor outcome; one half died and the other half had neurologic complications. Four cases resulted in payment to the patient. Median payment was $1,100,000. When care was standard, no payment or legal action occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wenner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003625:Data Collection; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000592:standards*; D007351:Insurance, Liability / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008318:Malpractice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011787:Quality of Health Care