Question: Discussion 1 Dorothy, A 3-year-old Girl, Had Spiking High Temperatures For About A Day And A Half. Unable To Break Her Fever, Her Mother Called Dr. Lewis To Make An Appointment. On Learning That The Doctor Was Out Of Town For Several Days, Dorothy’s Mother Asked The Receptionist If She Had Any Suggestions. The Receptionist Told The Mother That The Symptoms …

Discussion 1 Dorothy, a 3-year-old girl, had spiking hightemperatures for about a day and a half. Unable to break her fever,her mother called Dr. Lewis to make an appointment.

On learning that the doctor was out of town for several days,Dorothy’s mother asked the receptionist if she had any suggestions.The receptionist told the mother that the symptoms sounded like theflu that was going around and suggested that she give the childaspirin and fluids and call back in a few days if the child did notget better.

After 2 days of persistent high fever, the mother took Dorothyto the emergency room, where the child was diagnosed as havingmeningitis. Although heroic efforts were employed, Dorothy died thefollowing day.

Dorothy’s parents filed a malpractice suit against the doctorand the receptionist. The case was settled out of court for$500,000.

Is the receptionist at fault?

What responsibility does the child’s mother have in thissituation?

Should Dr. Lewis be held accountable?