Risk management is the process of identifying factors that may be a source of exposure to lawsuits and adverse outcomes.
Did a "boarded" ED patient have a bad outcome that can be in any way associated with a delay in diagnosis or treatment, or a failure to properly observe?
If a bad outcome occurs with a boarded patient, what standard of care will the ED be held to?
If highly religious nurses or physicians feel that it is appropriate to pray with patients and to share their faith, some patients will appreciate this while others may not. However, it's unlikely this practice will lead to a lawsuit.
An ED physician, like any health care provider, can be sued for wrongful death whenever there is evidence that medical malpractice has caused a patient's death.
