Hospital Authority v. Smith

McMurray, Judge.

John C. Smith, who had a history of arterial disease, was admitted to John L. Hutcheson Memorial Tri-County Hospital (Hospital Authority of Walker, Dade & Catoosa Counties) after suffering a heart attack. While in the intensive care unit of the hospital, which required protective rails around the beds and restraints as required by hospital procedure when ordered by the patient’s attending physician, he fell from a hospital bed and broke his hip. Shortly before falling he was somewhat restless, in a confused and disoriented mental state, under heavy medication; and had been…