Frivolous Lawsuit: Pseudocyesis

9.29.08

in Healthcare, Law

In the ER, when you hear an incoming paramedic unit give report on the phone/radio and the paramedic is barely able to reframe from laughing—something is up. Patient arrives via ambulance with a complaint of being 7 ½ years pregnant. Our pregnancy test is negative. Her response is, “they’re always negative.” Have you seen your doctor(s) for this and have they found a pregnancy? “No, they don’t believe me.” What do you do then? “I sue them.”

Pelvic examination shows a non-parous os, without any secondary signs of pregnancy and no bleeding. Her response, “that’s because the baby is wrapped in plastic.” No pregnancy was found and patient was discharged with an impression of pseudocyesis. A month later, at a cost of $10, she files a lawsuit. Several months later, after many hours and thousands of dollars, the case is dismissed on a general demurrer.

{ 6 trackbacks }

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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

1 shadowfax 9.29.08 at 16:01

You did a pelvic? I’m impressed (I think). I am not sure I would have…

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2 symtym 9.29.08 at 16:10

She warned me that I was going to be sued. If I’m getting invited to the dance, not going to miss any steps (standard of care, despite the illogic). Other reasons for doing a pelvic were to ruleout other pathologies that she was misconstruing as pregnancy: large fibroid, uterine/cx ca, prolapse, etc.

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3 WhiteCoat 10.2.08 at 11:28

What utter BS.
You so need to file a countersuit against her.
Get her classified as a “vexatious litigant” by the court – then she can’t file another suit without court approval.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vexatious_litigation

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4 Yvette 10.8.08 at 11:17

WOW that is amazing… I have never seen such. Wow

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5 Strong One 10.13.08 at 05:59

Err.. uuhh. WOW.
(slapping hand on forehead)

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6 cathy 10.30.08 at 17:21

Goodness, That’s about the most crazy things I’ve read yet. Speaking of crazy, in 8.5 yrs. no one has yet had her checked out in that area?

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7 Rogue Medic 12.21.08 at 06:23

5150?

At least until the baby is delivered. :-)

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8 Nursie 2.25.09 at 09:30

Why was this patient not referred to psychiatric treatment? A baby almost 400 weeks due might be best delivered by a shrink.

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9 kevin 2.25.09 at 15:59

you are very brave for going “up inside” her crazy “virgina”. even if you were allowed “a little light”. i’d be afraid.

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10 M.T. 2.25.09 at 17:07

This clearly sounds like a schizophrenic person. If she had said that in the hospital, I’m at a loss to understand *why a psychological evaluation wasn’t performed on the spot* to help rule out a mental health diagnosis. That would have protected the hospital/ward/workers from such silliness. Not that she’d ever secure such a lawsuit and meet in court, but, really. That’s some long-assed pregnant time!

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