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 Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:41 pm Post subject: Outpatient Oncology Disaster |
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My wife went to outpatient oncology in May for the purpose of receiving a transfusion of packed red blood cells. She had NSCLC Stage IV.
She was in pain and in poor condition. I told the nurse I was paging the doctor. She said there was no need because he was on the floor and would include my wife in his rounds. He never came. Later the doctor said that he was was not informed that we wanted to see him and never told anyone that we were on his rounds.
The entire story of this event took 7 pages to my lawyer and 3 pages to the hospital administrator, so I cannot tell it all here.
I received a letter from the President of the hospital two weeks later appolgizing for the poor treatment (without qualification or denial).
Some of the more disturbing things that happened were:
Her bed had no sheet, blanket or pillow. Nobody offered to get us these
things, so I went to the linen closet and got my own. Ditto for toilet and a bedside commode. (She could not walk).
The PC Tech took her vital signs at 9:00 o'clock. Her respration was 25.
Nothing was done about it. Her pain level was 9-10 on the 0-10 scale. The PC Tech made note of this pain level on the board and in the record, but took no action.
Pain medicine was requested all day. None was received. She was
diabetic, so we requested a glucose test since her blood sugar was very high the day before as a result of high dose dexamethasone. None was provided, so I went to the car and brought her tester. The glucose was 230. We asked for insulin and it took 4 hours for them to bring it.
As her condition was worsening quickly, she became incontinent and messed the bed several times. My daughter and I had to clean her and the bed each time while the staff did nothing. We requested an adult diaper and had to wait over an hour to get one ( after 2 more messes).
She was in the room until 4:00 and in all this time no food was brought to her.
We repeatedly asked that she be admitted, but were told it was doctor's orders to go home. The doctor later said he gave no such order.
She was in no shape to go home. Less than an hour after getting home, she died.
Lest anyone think it might be a payment problem, were were covered by Blue Cross.
Also, we were the only ones in outpatient for much of the time. it was a slow day. Being too busy was not the case.
I have been researching this whole set of events on the Internet in the hope it will aid the lawyer in building our case. The biggest problem is that I cannot find much information about what happens if a nurse is negligent in providing services, especially pain relief.
Any help appreciated.
Note: In this hospital, outpatient duty on a weekend is not considered choice duty. One of the primary concerns of the staff is the get done and go home (and they are quite open about it). We had experienced this attitude on prior visits, but never this bad. |
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Richard Day Gore
Experienced user
Joined: 09 Nov 2006
Posts: 69
Location: NYC
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| Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 5:20 pm Post subject: Re: Outpatient Oncology Disaster |
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One thing I only learned after getting some pretty shabby treatment myself is to gently let people know right up front that they're accountable. This is very easy:
1. Carry a ledger pad with you and make sure someone at the hospital knows you have it. Mark the time and as many details you can of any transaction and conversation.
2. Most important: whether it's on the phone or in person, get the name of EVERYONE you have a transaction with. Right up front. "What is your name please?" Let them know you're writing it down. Now they can no longer say "It wasn't me"--as convincingly anyway.
When people KNOW they are accountable, they are far less likely to be forgetful, neglectful or rude. And if push comes to shove, lord forbid, you have a LOT more clout if you can say, "At 3:30PM Norman said he'd bring a pillow."
It's a shame that in some hospitals, of all places, you might need to go through so much just to maintain health and dignity. (and sanity)
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Richard Day Gore |
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Cindy
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Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 155
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In
Site Admin
Joined: 18 Jul 2007
Posts: 1314
Location: AUSTRALIA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 10:25 pm Post subject: Re: Outpatient Oncology Disaster |
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God, what a sad story- but one that needs to come in the open. Too many people suffer from rude or wrong- no treatment.
I'm sorry for your loss, and in such a dreadful way too. Please stay strong, The lawers and hospital will fight you, and alot of time and money will be pouring through the courts. BUT stay strong, be a voice for all the others who didn't have the knowledge, or the strength to fight. Make this sad loss, a means. to an end.
Keep up with the fight.
Thinking of you and your Family. Inica
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Thinking of you Inica
*Administrator*
~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~
My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731
 9 Lives and still kicking |
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