Reference no: EM133834985

Question

After establishing both the duty of care and its breach, the patient must establish that the breach of the duty of care was the reason for the harm the patient suffered as opposed to another reason. That is referred to as causation. Which of the following examples shows causation?

A hospital admitted a patient who said he suffered from suicidal thoughts, placing him on suicide precaution status. A psychiatrist who consulted on the patient's case transferred the patient to a less stringent observational status, allowing him freedom to move around the hospital grounds. While roaming the hospital grounds, the patient committed suicide.

or

After reviewing the patient's X-rays, a physician treated the patient for a fractured leg, aligning the bone and setting the break but electing not to perform surgery in view of the way the break was shown in the X-ray. The patient was directed to use crutches and not bear weight on the leg for six weeks. The patient did not comply with these directions. The patient's fracture did not heal correctly and the patient suffered residual pain.