Darling v. Charleston Community Memorial Hosp.
Supreme Court of Illinois
211 N.E.2d 253 (1965)
Relevant factsFree
After Dorrence Darling (plaintiff) broke his leg, hospital nurses failed to follow the facility's own procedures for monitoring circulation in his casted leg, leading to tissue death and eventual amputation; a jury awarded Darling and his father damages against the hospital, and on appeal the hospital argued its duty was defined only by the customary care other hospitals in the community provided, not by its own licensing regulations, accreditation standards, or bylaws.
IssueFree
Whether custom, while never conclusive, is relevant in determining the standard of care owed by a hospital to a patient.