IHP_420_Milestone_One.docx IHP-420 Final Project Milestone One: Malpractice Southern N

IHP_420_Milestone_One.docx    IHP-420 Final Project Milestone One: Malpractice  Southern New Hampshire University  I.Introduction  Summarize  In January 2001, the decedent, Arturo Iturralde, was admitted to Hilo Medical Center to assess leg weakness that resulted in numerous falls. Physician, Dr. Robert Ricketson, examined Arturo on January 24, 2001 and diagnosed him with degenerative spondylolisthesis L4-5 with stenosis. This condition could potentially be relieved by implanting two rods into the spine through spinal fusion surgery. Arturo was scheduled for said surgery on January 29, 2001. Dr. Ricketson directed the HMC staff to order the needed kit from Medtronic, that contained all of the proper tools and instruments required for surgery. Two shipments were received on January 27, 2001 and were sent to sterilization and then to the operating room in preparation for the surgery. Now, at no point in time, was the required inventory done on the kit when it was first received. Vicki Barry, a nurse at HMC, advised Dr. Ricketson before surgery began, that inventory had not been completed on the kit but he proceeded with the surgery anyway.  Two hours into the operation Dr. Ricketson was ready to insert the titanium rods to Arturo™s spine however, the staff could not locate those rods. After searching throughout the hospital, the rods were not found, so they contacted the Medtronic rep to verify they were shipped. He could not confirm that they were in the original shipment but he did offer to personally b