Describe The Bioethics In The Case Iturralde v. Hilo Medical Center

Bioethics in Iturralde V. Hilo Medical Center Case
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Bioethics in Iturralde V. Hilo Medical Center Case
Iturralde V. Hilo Medical Center is a case that was resolved in the USA on March 30, 2012, by the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals. In this case, Iturralde had sued Dr. Robert Ricketson and also the Hilo Medical Center because of their medical misconduct that was putting many patients' health at risk. However, Iturralde claimed that Dr. Robert Ricketson was practicing his medical care below the required standards when he intentionally implanted a screwdriver shaft in his spine. Iturralde had been diagnosed with degenerative spondylolisthesis L4-5 with stenosis and needed surgery (Idemoto, 2007). Later when the doctor realized the titanium surgery rods were missing, he decided to use the shaft which later snapped causing the patient more injuries and then Iturralde died after two years. However, Dr. Ricketson deprived of his negligence in the court. The court, therefore, ordered Hilo Medical Center to pay $3.4 million for the damages and $ 5.6 million to the patients' family (Idemoto, 2007).
However, based on the Iturralde V. Hilo Medical Center case, Dr. Ricketson was supposed to carry out legal duty while carrying out his patient's surgery. To carry out professional standards, Dr. Ricketson could not have utilized strategy that could result in health risk for the patient. Moreover, the doctor did not check whether the necessary pieces of equipment were available before carrying out the surgery which is supposed to be a legal duty of the surgeon. Therefore, Dr. Ricketson's conduct presents a high negligence upon Iturralde because he reacted in a way that differs from the required health care standards. The doctor's malpractice, as well as his level of negligence, are suggested to be the actual cause of the patient's death. Moreover, ...