Stories about Doctor Accountability

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Experience Serious Side Effects from Sedative Medication

The surgeon was not prepared for my sedative needs, did not listen to my request of what to give me, and because I was holding up the Endoscopic Unit, he called for an anesthesiologist I had never met. He never asked a single question, nor did he check out my charts. He simply injected me with Propofol, without the Lidocaine to ease the pain. I was in hell, and then out for a quick intubation. As a heart patient with all the symptoms from that, I should not have had Propofol. I woke up coughing my guts and lungs up as they extubated me. I was on the other side of the hospital in the main recovery area. Neither doctor came to tell me what happened and what might happen later.

Hospital didn’t inform patient about sedative drug

I was involved in a motor vehicle accident. I arrived at the hospital alert but with a dislocated hip and a fractured ankle. At the time of treatment I was told they needed x-rays and I would be getting something for pain.

 

Given Three Times The Correct Dosage Of Medication

I received the wrong dosage of Lupron Depot after my shot was sent to the wrong doctor’s office. The nurse said they had an extra one on-site and gave me that one instead. I asked her if it was the 3.75 dose before she gave it to me, and she said yes. After the nurse gave me the shot, she realized it was the wrong dose and was actually the 11.25 shot…

Wife passes in hospital after untreated hypoglycemic episode

In 2003, my wife, Lisa, age 42, an insulin-dependent diabetic, collapsed into a coma while in a hospital. At the time she was discovered she had no pulse and was not breathing and her blood glucose level was almost non-existent at 2mg/dL.

 

 

Gastroparesis misdiagnosed for two years

For two years (2006-2008) I was in the ER repeatedly with vomiting, pain, etc. I saw a physician in their facility on an outpatient basis. I eventually suffered arrhythmias, multiple episodes of aspiration pneumonia, and was even referred to psychiatric help.

Severed nerve and inappropriate medical device from hip surgery results in permanent disability

My mother had hip surgery during which the doctor, unbeknownst to my mother or her rehab crew, severed a nerve. After several months of my mother not getting the mobility or correct walking gait back, the doctor insisted it would only take more rehab.

Toe Surgery Gone Wrong

At an ambulatory center I had surgery from a podiatrist/surgeon on the right big toe—because of arthritis, it turns out. She crippled me; because the surgery was not successful, she did a redo resulting in the partial amputation of the large toe, making it about one and a half inches shorter than it was before the first of 2 surgeries. During the second operation I woke up and could feel that I was being stitched up, and I cried out. I was then given more medication to keep me sedated until she was finished, ruining my foot and causing me to have a reduced quality of life for the last 9 years.

Unexpected post-surgery aneurysm results in permanent disability

After undergoing a carotid endarterectomy, I began seeing double. I phoned my surgeon and he told me to get an eye patch. What he should have done was tell me to get to the hospital STAT

Not told about risks of chiropractic procedure

On November 14, 2003, I suffered two brainstem strokes after having an upper neck manipulation. Initially, I lost speech, feeling in my right side, had a facial droop and slurred speech. When admitted to the stroke center, I found out that this is a known risk of chiropractic upper neck manipulations.

 

Jerk doctors stomach feeding tube

The doctor was supposed to be replacing a stomach feeding tube (goes through the stomach wall, for people who can’t chew/swallow properly). He didn’t understand the procedure for removing the old tube, got frustrated, and ripped it out by force.

 

Stories about Hip and Knee Replacement

Warranty should give patients all the information they need

What I would expect from a good warranty: 1- Description of all types of risks involved for health and safety 2- Lists of symptoms of failure of the device for use with doctors who may have to treat device failures and health harms. 3- Lists of suitable and approved medical tests, imaging, blood tests, fluid

 

I expect the company to stand behind their product

What I would expect from a good warranty: I expect the company to stand behind their product. I understand that it’s impossible to guarantee great results for every person so the warranty should cover any product defects including the proper model for each individual. Anthony’s story: My hip replacement occurred 3 years ago. They used

 

Cost of having it replaced should be covered with some exceptions

What I would expect from a good warranty: If there were problems due to a defect in the implant, the cost of having it replaced should be covered. Excluded from the warranty would be problems that develop as a result of poorly done surgery or poor fit (the surgeon should make certain the implant fits

 

Hip implants performing as expected – so far

What I would expect from a good warranty: Lifetime replacement with additional compensation to pay for rehab, surgery, lost wages, pain, medications, private duty nurses. Definition of covered malfunctions including increased blood metal readings. Marilyn’s story: I was told that the doctor will choose the implant, that I have no say in the matter. Both

 

It should last at least 15 years, or be replaced at no cost

What I would expect from a good warranty: That with reasonable use (no high impact sports) it should last at least 15 years, or be replaced at no cost. Leta’s story: My hip replacement was manufactured by Biomet and is Titanium. It functions just as well as a real undamaged hip. I am very pleased

 

Total cost of replacement if there is a defect in the product

What I would expect from a good warranty: Total cost of replacement should there be any reason for recall; total cost of replacement if there is a defect in the product. Kerry’s story: I had surgery July 17th (left hip) and September 24th (right hip) in 2012. Both were done with the anterior approach

 

Problems with my knee replacement

What I would expect from a good warranty: If anything goes wrong with the implant and has to be replaced the manufacture should pay for the replacement and also all doctor and hospital billings. We are not talking about something small. I wasn’t able to drive for 6 wks and missed so much work. Linda’s

 

Knee replacements causing discomfort

What I would expect from a good warranty: I would expect a good quality components that last for as long as I was told before the surgeries, like on average 15 plus years. I was shocked when my orthopedic surgeon told me that the knee components will wear and tear more quickly if the person Continue Reading

Grateful for knee replacements

What I would expect from a good warranty: I would expect the implant to be replaced without cost for at least 10 years. But, the surgery is extremely painful for a few months. Having it done again should be free – the WHOLE cost – not just the implant cost. The MD costs, the hospital Continue Reading

 

76 years old and very pleased with knee replacements

What I would expect from a good warranty: I expect the warranty to indicate that the work was done properly, the device was well made and will not deteriorate with normal use, and that the company that made the device will contact me or my surgeon (who will then contact me) if there are unexpected Continue Reading

 

Stories about Hospital Infections/ Superbugs

Barbara of South Burlington, Vermont

I had spinal decompression, laminectomy and 3 level lumbar fusion, performed by 2 neurosurgeons at the largest hospital in my state. Four days after discharge to my home 75 miles away, I started to have a fever and pus discharge from main incision. I was admitted to local hospital which did appropriate cultures, finding that I had M.R.S.A, a potentially deadly infection.

Infant Dies Following Hospital Acquired Infections

My pregnancy was completely normal and everything seemed perfect. Charlee was my husband’s only child and his pride and joy.

My Hospital Infection Nightmare

In November 2006, following a medical procedure, I came down with a 104 fever with an extreme headache. Informing the doctor of my symptoms, I was told I had probably caught a ‘flu bug’ and to wait it out until my post-op appointment two weeks later.

 

John McCleary of Maine

John McCleary, my father, was admitted to the hospital on September 26, 2008 with a minor fracture of his ankle. He was in that 25 bed hospital for 12 days for rehabilitation and discharged in good condition on October 5.

Father Contracted C. Diff in Hospital Following Hip Replacement

My father received the hip surgery in the beginning of November 2007. The doctor was only going to repair the old replaced hip. As it was, he replaced the hip and the doctor used shorter screws and the ball fell out, but the doctor and staff never brought my Dad to x-ray to follow up because he is old.

MRSA to Handicapped, incontinent and can hardly walk

In February 2008, I had pain in my right flank area that lasted in the same spot all night. Thinking it could be a kidney stone, I went to the ER the next morning and they checked my urine and did a CT scan.

Patient has to pay for contracting hospital infection

I had a cyst operation in April, 2008. I was given pre-op antibiotics. In May I started to feel horrible. I got a fever, was throwing up and had chronic diarrhea. I called my sister who is a nurse and she looked up my symptoms and told me she thought I had C-Diff. I had an appointment with the surgeon and told him what was happening. I also told him I thought I had C-Diff.

Lucille M. Burns of Scranton, Pennsylvania

On November 22, 2007 my mother was rushed to the ER of a Pennsylvania hospital where she was diagnosed with a severe bacterial infection caused by Clostridium Difficile. She had been exhibiting symptoms of this infection for several days prior, which was left untreated. Her symptoms included persistent diarrhea, a high fever and abnormally high white blood cell count. After being diagnosed with this infection it was suggested that she undergo emergency surgery to remove the “infected and diseased” parts of her colon. It was explained to us that it was her only chance of survival. She underwent surgery the next morning. Unfortunately, the surgery was not successful in controlling the spread of the infection, as that it had infected other parts of her body. Sadly, she died from this infection the early morning of November 24, 2007.

Michael Skolnik of Colorado

After Michael Skolnik passed out in September 2001, his neurosurgeon told his parents that Michael needed to have brain surgery within two days. The three hour operation lasted six hours with no cyst ever being found. This marked the beginning of a 32-month nightmare of brain surgeries, infections, and more than $4,000,000 in medical bills.

David Meyer of California

In May of 2006 I was involved in a motorcycle accident and taken to a Sacramento hospital for treatment. I had sustained a fracture to my right ankle. When I left the hospital the wound would not heal. After taking lab tests it was determined that I had a staph infection that required a debridement surgery. (It turned out to be two surgeries).

Stories about Medical Errors

What One Medical Error Did To My Daughter

Read how one medical error changed a young woman’s life forever.

Negligence Led to Mother’s Death

My mother, 83, had knee replacement surgery at a small hospital in Wisconsin. Two days after surgery she developed shortness of breath and pressure in her chest. My sister, our mother’s caregiver, had to bring this to the attention of the medical staff. Chest x-rays were requested which revealed mild edema, enlarged cardiac silhouette, and Continue Reading

Father dies after suffering stroke and neglect in the hospital

On February of 2010, my father, at the age of 89, was admitted to a hospital in Washington for an evaluation because he started showing signs of slight confusion. At his admission, he was in a fairly good state of health. He did not have any serious life threatening illness. However, he suddenly died at the hospital on the 5th day of his admission

Brother bled to death from central line medical error

On June 9, 2008, my brother, Kenneth Novak died due to the terrible mistake of two anesthesiologists at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, FL. While central lines were being placed into his internal jugular vein to prepare for a liver transplant, the catheter/needle was advanced too far, perforating both the jugular and right subclavian artery. My brother bled to death.

Surgical error during biopsy left me permanently blind

On September 30 of 1991, a simple forceps biopsy was performed (in my chest of a massive 13cm tumor) to diagnose, and/or grade and stage Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A surgical accident occured during this biopsy

Mother and Son Experience Different Medical Errors

In January 2007 I underwent cabx5, an aneurysm repair in left ventricle of my heart, where a bi-ventricular pacemaker was inserted. According to my medical records, my doctor found the aneurysm in the left ventricle in 2004, and in 2005 in the stress test, and never told me about it. I am permanently disabled.

Father Given Wrong Dosage of Life Threatening Medication

In 2008, my Dad was in a local hospital where he was given a sulfa medication, despite the fact that he was wearing a red wrist band warning about his well-documented life-threatening sulfa allergy, and despite that many medical references do not support this off-label use of the drug in my Dad’s medical condition. Furthermore, without an emergency, the doctor and the nurses never informed my Dad or me (his medical power of attorney at the hospital 24/7) about the drug being a sulfa drug, or any of its risks. We even repeatedly asked the doctor about the drug risks before its administration. Yet the doctor withheld all this critical drug information, and lied about the drug risks (which turned out to be significant to my Dad). We later learned that there was also a plan to monitor my Dad after the first dose to watch for an anaphylactic drug reaction. But no one told us anything about this monitoring plan, even after my Dad showed signs of a serious drug reaction.

Not told about risks of chiropractic procedure

On November 14, 2003, I suffered two brainstem strokes after having an upper neck manipulation. Initially, I lost speech, feeling in my right side, had a facial droop and slurred speech. When admitted to the stroke center, I found out that this is a known risk of chiropractic upper neck manipulations.

Ruptured disc surgery fuses wrong

In 1976 I had my back operated on (because I had a ruptured disk) and the doctor fused my back wrong. In 1978, a neurologist tried to fix it, but the damage was too extensive. I have had chronic pain every since.

Severed nerve and inappropriate medical device from hip surgery results in permanent disability

My mother had hip surgery during which the doctor, unbeknownst to my mother or her rehab crew, severed a nerve. After several months of my mother not getting the mobility or correct walking gait back, the doctor insisted it would only take more rehab.