A child presented with an illness causing the child to pass out. Immediately, the child’s parent dialed 9-1-1. The
9-1-1 dispatcher answered the call and asked if it what was the emergency. The parent answered the question
in the affirmative that it was an emergency and the 5 year old child passed out. The dispatcher asked for the
child’s location in order to send an ambulance. The parent answers that the child and parent are in the parking
lot in front of the local community hospital emergency department and is in fact requesting an ambulance. The
dispatcher confirms the location of the parent and child with the parent. The parent replies again that they are
in the parking lot in front of the local community hospital emergency department and the hospital will not do
anything for the child. The dispatcher immediately contacts the emergency department of this hospital
explaining the parent’s request for a ambulance. The Hospital personnel, answers the Dispatcher by stating
this parent who wants to be seen quicker figures he would call 9-1-1 from our parking lot for an ambulance and
that would result in a quicker response then waiting the in emergency room. The Dispatcher tell the Hospital
personnel the parent is requesting a ambulance and the child is passed out and asks if the Hospital will send
an ambulance and the Hospital personnel answers no.
The child was seen in the Hospital during which time the child’s condition deteriorated and died four (4) days
later. Based on the above case study, does the parent have a lawsuit against the Hospital and its personnel for
negligence and malpractice? Why or why not? What rights and responsibilities does Hospitals have to
patients? Does the parent play a role in the outcome of this case? What facts could have changed the outcome
of the case?

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