Abstract
This case report describes the ‘worst-case’ experience of a patient and patient’s family with the medical field that resulted in the horrendous suffering and the unnecessary death of Michael Skolnik. This chapter provides a root cause analysis of contributing factors leading to a young man’s preventable death, related to poor communication, lack of experience, improper monitoring, negligent medical care, and absence of a formal ‘shared-decision-making process’ with the patient and the patient’s family.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Reference
Makary M. Why patient harm is one of the leading causes of death in America. Interview with Marshall Allen of ProPublica, 9–18–12. http://www.propublica.org/article/qa-marty-makary-m.d.-author-of-unaccountable
Further Reading
Makary M. Unaccountable: what hospitals won’t tell you and how transparency can revolutionize health care. New York: Bloomsbury Press; 2012.
Mauffrey C, Stahel PF. Shared decision making—the importance of open communication with our patients. Bone Joint J; Feb 2013.
Mayer DB, McDonald T. The faces of medical error—from tears to transparency. The Story of Michael Skolnik. DVD, Solid Line Media; 2010.
National Patient Advocate Foundation. (www.npaf.org).
Patient Advocate Foundation. (www.patientadvocate.org).
To err is human: building a safer health system. Institute of Medicine; 1999.
Wen L, Kosowsky J. When doctors don’t listen: How to avoid misdiagnoses and unnecessary tests. New York: St. Martin’s Press; 2013.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag London
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Skolnik, P.J., Skolnik, D.M., Butler, N. (2014). The Preventable Death of Michael Skolnik: An Imperative for Shared Decision-Making. In: Stahel, P., Mauffrey, C. (eds) Patient Safety in Surgery. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4369-7_33
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4369-7_33
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4368-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4369-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)