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Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston complaint alleges delayed recognition of need for neurosurgery

The complaint alleges that a patient was treated at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston on November 30 and December 1, 2023 for headaches, underwent CT imaging and neurosurgical consultations, and was discharged after providers allegedly determined that surgical intervention was not needed. According to the complaint, the patient suffered a spinal stroke and brain injury on or around December 8, 2023, resulting in permanent disability, inability to walk or care for himself, pain and suffering, and significant medical expenses.

System
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Facility
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston
Providers involved
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. / Pediatric Neurosurgery Associates at Children’s, LLC / Emory University, Inc. / David Michael Wrubel, M.D. / Joshua Jiachuh Chern, M.D. / Reem Amer Dawoud, M.D. / Fadi Paul Jacob, M.D.
Pattern
Alleged failure to recognize need for urgent neurosurgical intervention after headache presentations
Harm
Alleged spinal stroke, brain injury, permanent disability, inability to walk, and ongoing medical expenses

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, pediatric neurosurgery providers, and related entities failed to recognize the need for urgent surgical intervention after headache presentations and CT imaging.

Chronology

  1. According to the complaint, the patient was taken to the emergency department at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston on November 30, 2023 with a chief complaint of headache.
  2. The complaint alleges that a CT scan of the head without contrast was performed and that a neurosurgery consult was ordered on November 30, 2023.
  3. The complaint alleges that neurosurgery resident Reem Amer Dawoud examined the patient, reviewed CT images, determined no surgical intervention was needed, and determined the patient was stable for discharge.
  4. According to the filing, Dr. David Michael Wrubel agreed with the diagnosis and treatment plan on November 30, 2023.
  5. According to the complaint, the patient returned to the emergency department on December 1, 2023 with headache, and a repeat CT scan and neurosurgery consult were performed.
  6. The complaint alleges that neurosurgery resident Fadi Paul Jacob examined the patient, reviewed CT images, determined no surgical intervention was needed, and determined the patient was stable for discharge.
  7. According to the filing, Dr. Joshua Jiachuh Chern agreed with the diagnosis and treatment plan on December 1, 2023.
  8. According to the complaint, the patient suffered a spinal stroke and brain injury on or around December 8, 2023.

Alleged failures

  • The complaint alleges that Dr. Wrubel and Dr. Dawoud deviated from the applicable standard of care on November 30, 2023 by failing to recognize that the patient required surgical intervention.
  • The complaint alleges that Dr. Chern and Dr. Jacob deviated from the applicable standard of care on December 1, 2023 by failing to recognize that the patient required surgical intervention.
  • The complaint alleges that these alleged deviations caused the patient to suffer pain, suffering, permanent disability, medical expenses, and other damages.

Entities and tags

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at EglestonPediatric Neurosurgery Associates at Children’s, LLCEmory University, Inc.David Michael Wrubel, M.D.Joshua Jiachuh Chern, M.D.Reem Amer Dawoud, M.D.Fadi Paul Jacob, M.D.Spinal strokeBrain injuryCT scanNeurosurgeryFailure to diagnoseDelayed treatmentFailure to recognize surgical needNeurosurgery consultationPediatric malpracticePediatric neurosurgeryEmergency medicineDiagnostic imagingNeurology

Questions this example answers

What does the CHOA Egleston spinal stroke delay allege?

The complaint alleges that a patient was treated at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston on November 30 and December 1, 2023 for headaches, underwent CT imaging and neurosurgical consultations, and was discharged after providers allegedly determined that surgical intervention was not needed. According to the complaint, the patient suffered a spinal stroke and brain injury on or around December 8, 2023, resulting in permanent disability, inability to walk or care for himself, pain and suffering, and significant medical expenses.

Who is identified in this public case example?

This public case example identifies Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc., Pediatric Neurosurgery Associates at Children’s, LLC, Emory University, Inc., David Michael Wrubel, M.D., Joshua Jiachuh Chern, M.D., Reem Amer Dawoud, M.D., and Fadi Paul Jacob, M.D. It also tags the source-supported entities Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc., Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, Pediatric Neurosurgery Associates at Children’s, LLC, Emory University, Inc., and David Michael Wrubel, M.D.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

The complaint alleges that Dr. Wrubel and Dr. Dawoud deviated from the applicable standard of care on November 30, 2023 by failing to recognize that the patient required surgical intervention. The complaint alleges that Dr. Chern and Dr. Jacob deviated from the applicable standard of care on December 1, 2023 by failing to recognize that the patient required surgical intervention. The complaint alleges that these alleged deviations caused the patient to suffer pain, suffering, permanent disability, medical expenses, and other damages.