Medical-Legal Aspects of Pain and Suffering

Written for the healthcare professional, claims adjuster, and trial attorney, Medical-Legal Aspects of Pain and Suffering provides detailed information on how to analyze pain and suffering cases. Edited by Patricia W. Iyer, MSN, RN, LNCC, this authoritative 525-page reference draws on contributions from legal nurse consultants, physicians, and attorneys — covering all sides of how pain and suffering patients and cases are viewed and treated.

The text explains how to understand medical records and commonly used pain assessment tools, with focused coverage of high-risk populations including children, the elderly, and ICU patients. The final section is dedicated to courtroom presentation of pain and suffering cases — combining clinical information with legal strategy to make this a must-read for any attorney litigating medical, nursing, or nursing home negligence cases.

• Editor: Patricia W. Iyer, MSN, RN, LNCC
• ISBN-10: 1-930056-39-7
• ISBN-13: 978-1-930056-39-8
• Copyright: May 1, 2003
• Pages: 525
• Binding: Casebound
• Size: 8.5 x 11 inches

Topics Include:

• Organization and analysis of medical records
• Pain assessment and management
• Chronic pain and cancer pain
• Spinal cord injury
• Wounds and burns
• Life-care planning
• Pain and suffering in children
• Pain and suffering in the elderly
• ICU pain and suffering
• Trial exhibits — legal and strategic considerations
• Ante-mortem damages
• Defense and plaintiff attorney perspectives

Table of Contents

1. Organization and Analysis of Medical Records — Patricia Iyer, MSN, RN, LNCC
2. Pain Assessment — Yvonne D'Arcy, MS, CRNP, CNS
3. Pain Management — Dorene A. O'Hara, MD, MSE
4. A Psychologist's View of Pain and Suffering — Lisa Stepp, Ph.D.
5. Suffering: A Multidimensional Concept — Leta Truett, PhD, RN and Patricia Iyer
6. Pain and Suffering of Children — Sally A. Lambert, PhD, RN and Diane C. Hudson-Barr, PhD, RN
7. Pain and Suffering in Pediatric Neurology — Michael A. Pollack, MD et al.
8. Pain and Suffering in Emergency Care — Renee Holleran, PhD, RN
9. Spinal Cord Injury — Guy William Fried, MD and Karen Mandzak Fried
10. Pain and Suffering in Orthopaedics — Nancy E. Mooney, MA, RN, ONC
11. Cancer Pain and Suffering — Carol Bales, MSN, RN, AOCN
12. Wounds and Burns — Kelly Jaszarowski, MSN, RN
13. Ostomies and Incontinence — Kelly Jaszarowski, MSN, RN
14. Pain and Suffering in the Intensive Care Unit — Ian Larry Cohen, MD
15. Pain and Suffering in the Elderly Population — Suzanne Frederick, MSN, RN
16. Life Care Planning and Chronic Pain — Randall Thomas, PhD, CRC
17. The Expert Fact Witness — Patricia Iyer, MSN, RN, LNCC
18. Trial Exhibits: Legal and Strategic Considerations — Patricia Iyer, Stephen Appelbaum, and John M. Parisi, Esq.
19. Trial Exhibits: Preparation and Use — Patricia Iyer, Stephen Appelbaum, and John Parisi, Esq.
20. Ante-Mortem Damages — Tom Vesper, Esq.
21. A Defense Attorney's Perspective — J. Michael West, Esq. and Thomas C. Broderick, Esq.
22. A Plaintiff's Attorney's Perspective — Thomas Duffy, Esq.