Re: My very long ordeal and solicting opinions

[Guest guest]

Several two and three word phrases: LOCAL NEWSPAPER. And LOCAL TV

STATION. And LOCAL SUPPORT GROUP. And STATE MALPRACTICE BOARD. And STATE

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER. And STATE HOSPITAL COMMISSIONER.

You need to get the word out about this, as you say, you may very well

save someone's life by doing so. I am SO sorry that this happened to

you, and I am thrilled that you finally got the help you needed. Now

take your outrage (totally justified, IMO) and use it to fuel you as you

tell EVERYONE who will listen, especially those in a position to do

something about this terrible state of affairs. You do not need to name

names. " My understanding is... " and " I was told... " work wonders.

Good luck!

Z

Open RNY 09/17/01

http://www.ziobro.us

My very long ordeal and solicting opinions

I'm sitting here livid and could use some direction. I had posted a bit

ago about abdominal pain, not sure if I followed up on it or not but

here goes with what happened with me, bear with me it gets unbelievable.

<snip>

Now the unbelievable part. A good friend of mine told me today the

whole reason they did not want to treat me. Her DH is a doctor there

and the head of the ER group told him they do not treat patients

operated on my Ocala docs because the doctors there do not carry

malpractice insurance and they (the ER docs) do not want to assume the

liability if the patient sues (not knowing I would find out of course

and of course I have no way of proving this little gem of information).

I called my Dr and apparently I am the third patient they misdiagnosed

and shipped off to Ocala. The other surgeon has had patient care issues

(ok higher mortality rate) but my doctor is very well known for his

skill, which I can attest to firsthand (and has insurance). My doctor

even contated the ER group here after my surgery and offered to do a

seminar on how to diagnose issues in a gastric bypass patient but they

want nothing to do with it I was told.

I feel like I need to do something for fear that if I do not eventually

they are going to kill someone in the process of their " care " here. I

am just not sure exactly what I can do. I do not want to risk my

friend's husband's job in the process but I would really like to get

their attention that they cannot just do this to people. The first time

I was in the ER the doctor caring for me said Oh we get a lot of gastric

bypass patients with unspecified abdominal pain.... The second time I

was in a similar comment was

made but I can't quote it word for word, I was too drugged up.

I should add that the hospital with the ER was probably 10 times larger

than the hospital they sent me to in Ocala and is adding on to their

facility to be the largest ER in the area.

All opinions welcome, I really am struggling with what to do.

Sherrie

[Guest guest]

Wow, Sherrie, that's quite a story. Thank G*d you were finally

diagnosed correctly and taken care of.

Well, a couple of things come to mind. I'm a firm believer in going

right to the top. I would contact your State Dept. of Health, and

whoever is in charge of doctors AND hospitals. You might also

consider contacting the news media with that little tidbit of

information, telling them they're getting an " exclusive, " and letting

them do further investigation because I simply don't trust the big

guns to investigate their own...too many hands in the pot, too many

golf games, and then, there's that good old boys network.

I hope you're feeling better, and I truly appreciate your wanting to

do something so this never happens to anyone again.

Good luck, sweetie, and continued good health.

in NJ

[Guest guest]

> I'm sitting here livid and could use some direction. I had posted a

> bit ago about abdominal pain,

*** not sure what 'direction' you would like, but I can tell you this

happens all the time, all over the country. when I was in VA I went to my

local ER twice only to be told I had rearranged my insides and they didnt'

know how to treat me. they would do an xray, bloodwork and give me very low

dose of demerol that did nothing and after hours I would just check myself

out and drive the 2+hr. to my surgeon.

you can't see adhesions at all and rarely see bowel obstructions on xrays,

ct scans, etc. so it is difficult for any surgeon but especially for one who

knows nothing about gastric bypass.

sue