Final answer:
The court ruled in favor of the patient due to a likely breach in the standard of care, where the nurse’s notes failed to show that preventive measures for DVT and PE, specifically TED hose and SCDs, were applied as ordered. Documentation gaps and possibly the failure to apply these measures could have led to the patient's complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
The court likely ruled in favor of the patient because the standard of care was not met. The nurse's notes did not indicate that thromboembolism deterrent (TED) hose and sequential compression devices (SCDs) were applied, even though they were ordered. The omission in documentation and possibly the lack of application of these preventative measures could have contributed to the development of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and subsequent pulmonary embolism (PE), both of which are serious complications that can arise postoperatively. Proper documentation is crucial in a healthcare setting as it attests to the care a patient received. The court, emphasizing the nurse's failure to follow through on the physician's orders and likely the absence of proof that necessary preventive measures were taken, decided in the patient's favor.