Question

The health care providers order read, "assist the patient with walking." The nurse allowed the patient to walk alone. The patient fell, fracturing the humerus. Which verdict is most likely occurrence?

Answer 1

The most likely verdict in this scenario would be against the healthcare provider for negligence, as the nurse did not follow orders to assist the patient with walking, leading to the patient's fall and subsequent humerus fracture.

Step-by-step explanation:

The verdict in a case where the health care provider's orders were to 'assist the patient with walking,' but instead the nurse allowed the patient to walk alone resulting in the patient falling and fracturing their humerus, is likely to be against the healthcare provider for negligence.

Falls onto the hand or elbow, or direct blows to the arm, can result in fractures of the humerus, including the surgical neck or shaft. In this scenario, the nurse's failure to assist as instructed could be seen as a breach of the duty of care owed to the patient, which directly caused the injury.

Furthermore, such fractures can have serious complications, like compression of the artery to the forearm, thereby necessitating the correct level of care to prevent further damage or morbidity.