Posted 4/26/2011 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
You are right about the dr. being responsible. I went through a similar situation, but fortunately for me I am an RN, and would not let the dr. get away with the crap, your wife was given. I had a scope on Friday, and that night, the port sites bled through and soaked the huge bandage that was on the knee. I called and paged the ortho surgeon who said: "Put heat on it" which, was the exact OPPOSITE of what needed to be done. I repeated to me three times: YOU want me to put heat on it, and he answered YES. I did that for about 5 minutes, but the bleeding increased, so my nursing skills would not let me do that. By morning I had bled though all over the bed, I called the ER to page him, and no call back over and over and over, Finally, they called me and said that I could come to ER if I could get ther in FIVE minutes. I went, he came in said OH you decided to bleed. What the heck/ It was a horrendous hospital stay, I was admitted for pain control, supposedly. Went home on Tues. On Wed, I called his office to tell him that green crud was draining out of the sites, no call back over and over I called. Finally on Friday night, late I went to ER as I could not bend the leg, and the ER dr said to me YOU are a nurse, you know mrsa when you see it. I explained about calling and calling and being ignored. He admitted me, I had surgery everyother day for a week, then on IV antibiotics for 6 months, then oral for 3 months. All of this was caused by a surgeon who was not incompetent, he just did not give a DA** and did not want to be bothered. I would imagine you wife also had a massive infection like MRSA , in addition to the clots. BE SURE TO Get a copy of her medical records, in the next couple of days. Say you want reports of all pending tests, cultures, etc. Fax a release of information or take it yourself today to that surgeons office and demand copy of the chart yourself, NOW, do not let them have time to revise the chart in anyway. IF you have to pay 25 cents a page, do it.
Be sure to come back here and post the results of her blood cultures. This is one of the worse cases of mismanagement. She was young, and this was neglect. I am so sorry to bring this up during your time of loss, but it is imperative to get it done. You sign the releases as next of kin. Then when life has settled a litttle for you, consider getting a good malpractice attorney. It is actually a neglect case. IT is up to you. I did not sue the dr who has caused me a lifetime of pain, disfigurement, and probably an earlier death, as I was an RN, and believed I should not sue one of my own. I am deeply sorry. I Did write him a long letter, but I doubt he ever read it, as too many patients have gone through similar incidents under his care. He should not practice. FIRST DO NO HARM< WHY do they forget that? If I can help interpret anything , please feel free to contact me. I am on her three or so times a week. T