i'm sorry for your pain and worry. you may not be ready to hear this now, but there's always a life lesson to be learned through these incidents. and your story could inspire others to help themselves. that's a gift in itself.
it's important you speak to an attorney in your state. laws vary from state to state. googling is ok to get some background info, but it won't give you the full story. sometimes the online information has been edited, presenting a skewed viewpoint. remember this--there is always someone out there willing to take on your case. do you think every attorney in la wanted to or was qualified to take on oj's case? --not my favorite analogy, but you get my point. in any event, he pulled together his dream team and you know the rest.
consultations are free. it just costs your time. bring notes/your written personal detailed accounting of the incident/medical records/billing statements of your story for the attorney. i will caution you now, review your medical records carefully...sometimes they are not released in their entirety in cases where there could be malpractice. also, ask anyone who was or has been with you since the surgery to note if they have seen any changes in your behavior, moods, walk, range of motion, etc.
when you go, take notes during the meeting---trust me, you won't remember all the details. during the consult, the attorney will advise you whether or not this is a case they will take and what the possible outcome could mean for you. if they say your case is 'frivolous', it usually means that attorney doesn't have the expertise to help you. see more people. susan is correct in that they take a portion of your settlement. if they want money up front, they're not the right person. your case is not frivolous. what happened to you is not professional nor is it an acceptable standard of practice....unless you are willing to agree that it's acceptable.
people have been bullied for a long time and things have only gotten worse. had these incidents been nipped in the bud when they first started happening years ago, we'd all be in a better place and you probably would not be living with a needle in your middle for the past 2 1/2 years. we've become a numb and accepting people.
i'll remind you again, just because it happens does not make it an acceptable standard. this has happened so frequently over so many years that medical staffers behave as if it's an acceptable standard---there's either 'nothing they can do' or 'it happens, but you'll be ok.' whaaaat? back the bus up! why would you jeopardize your health and well being over someone else's poor work ethic? how's that workin' for your self esteem? what message are you sending to your kids----lay down and take it? or stand up for yourself cuz you're worth it! worthiness is a big issue for women....we give and give and give and sometimes don't feel a return, and later ask ourselves---'am i not worth love/praise/gratitude/thanks/money....'--you fill in the blank. a mindset of worthlessness does not serve yourself nor does it elevate the next generation.
from what you wrote, a second surgery may not be in the cards for you, according to your surgeon, since trying to remove it would be 'like finding a needle in a haystack'. i don't get it....they have films of the location of the needle, so they know where it is. is it in such a delicate location that it would be life-threatening to remove it? also, you need expert witnesses (other doctors/surgeons/specialists) to testify regarding the possibility of the needle causing problems for you down the road. i'm sure there are cases that didn't end well when random surgical equipment was erroneously and sloppily left inside after close. a good attorney will know these people, so not to worry. remember, they want to win. they will have the best people for you.
you probably think that i'm in favor of a suit. who cares? this isn't about me. it's about what's acceptable and what's not acceptable. debbie, you are young and want to be healthy and strong to give your kids the upbringing you were counting on giving them. this incident did not occur due to your own negligence, but rather the negligence of others. it's kind of like being rear ended at a red light....imagine sitting in your car, obeying traffic, stopped at a red light---and the guy coming up behind you was supposed to do the same, but they weren't paying attention and struck you from behind. think about those injuries...neck, back, brain...so is it acceptable just to let that go, too?
alysia made an earlier comment about the high cost of malpractice insurance. oh, boo hoo. with all the state licensing and insurance company bureaucracy and pharmaceutical costs, it's no wonder doctors have been getting screwed for years ---and the screwing gets passed on to the patient. when i was a kid, the doctor gave us a cough syrup or whatever we needed right out of the medicine cabinet in his office. no need to go to a drug store unless you needed something he didn't have on hand. it was another income stream for the doctor----greedy big pharma took that away from doctors years ago. and talk about escalating costs!--the script you pay $100 for costs 8 cents a piece to make...if that! also, when i was a kid, a doctor might have seen 10 patients during a typical day---he was able to spend time and get to know the person, their family AND learn about their complaint. now things have changed and they are forced to see 35+ patients a day to keep up with their operating costs...that shakes out to them sometimes spending 7 minutes with a patient. which is part of the reason why you have to now have so many tests and pay even more for the privilege of doing so....they can't spend enough time with you!! i'm sure they're tired...they are, after all, human, and need rest. and then there's the licensing thing....any license--drivers, medical, pet---is a revenue stream for the state. people are mistaken to think that a license will ensure that they will get the 'best' care. so all medical doctors are licensed in this country....and still these mishaps occur. imagine that.
sound harsh? not really. we need to see the complete picture and learn the history to understand how we arrived where we are today...or in this case, got into the mess we find ourselves in today. debbie is just one case...there are millions! and this could happen to any one of you reading this now.
education, experience and genuine interest in the well being of people ensure good care. that's priceless.
so pony up, people. stand your ground and refuse to be bullied. you may even feel better about yourself, and your children will thank you down the road.
Kristy Mills, Traditional Naturopath, CNHP
LagunaNaturalHealth.com
Comment Reply
i'm sorry for your pain and worry. you may not be ready to hear this now, but there's always a life lesson to be learned through these incidents. and your story could inspire others to help themselves. that's a gift in itself.
it's important you speak to an attorney in your state. laws vary from state to state. googling is ok to get some background info, but it won't give you the full story. sometimes the online information has been edited, presenting a skewed viewpoint. remember this--there is always someone out there willing to take on your case. do you think every attorney in la wanted to or was qualified to take on oj's case? --not my favorite analogy, but you get my point. in any event, he pulled together his dream team and you know the rest.
consultations are free. it just costs your time. bring notes/your written personal detailed accounting of the incident/medical records/billing statements of your story for the attorney. i will caution you now, review your medical records carefully...sometimes they are not released in their entirety in cases where there could be malpractice. also, ask anyone who was or has been with you since the surgery to note if they have seen any changes in your behavior, moods, walk, range of motion, etc.
when you go, take notes during the meeting---trust me, you won't remember all the details. during the consult, the attorney will advise you whether or not this is a case they will take and what the possible outcome could mean for you. if they say your case is 'frivolous', it usually means that attorney doesn't have the expertise to help you. see more people. susan is correct in that they take a portion of your settlement. if they want money up front, they're not the right person. your case is not frivolous. what happened to you is not professional nor is it an acceptable standard of practice....unless you are willing to agree that it's acceptable.
people have been bullied for a long time and things have only gotten worse. had these incidents been nipped in the bud when they first started happening years ago, we'd all be in a better place and you probably would not be living with a needle in your middle for the past 2 1/2 years. we've become a numb and accepting people.
i'll remind you again, just because it happens does not make it an acceptable standard. this has happened so frequently over so many years that medical staffers behave as if it's an acceptable standard---there's either 'nothing they can do' or 'it happens, but you'll be ok.' whaaaat? back the bus up! why would you jeopardize your health and well being over someone else's poor work ethic? how's that workin' for your self esteem? what message are you sending to your kids----lay down and take it? or stand up for yourself cuz you're worth it! worthiness is a big issue for women....we give and give and give and sometimes don't feel a return, and later ask ourselves---'am i not worth love/praise/gratitude/thanks/money....'--you fill in the blank. a mindset of worthlessness does not serve yourself nor does it elevate the next generation.
from what you wrote, a second surgery may not be in the cards for you, according to your surgeon, since trying to remove it would be 'like finding a needle in a haystack'. i don't get it....they have films of the location of the needle, so they know where it is. is it in such a delicate location that it would be life-threatening to remove it? also, you need expert witnesses (other doctors/surgeons/specialists) to testify regarding the possibility of the needle causing problems for you down the road. i'm sure there are cases that didn't end well when random surgical equipment was erroneously and sloppily left inside after close. a good attorney will know these people, so not to worry. remember, they want to win. they will have the best people for you.
you probably think that i'm in favor of a suit. who cares? this isn't about me. it's about what's acceptable and what's not acceptable. debbie, you are young and want to be healthy and strong to give your kids the upbringing you were counting on giving them. this incident did not occur due to your own negligence, but rather the negligence of others. it's kind of like being rear ended at a red light....imagine sitting in your car, obeying traffic, stopped at a red light---and the guy coming up behind you was supposed to do the same, but they weren't paying attention and struck you from behind. think about those injuries...neck, back, brain...so is it acceptable just to let that go, too?
alysia made an earlier comment about the high cost of malpractice insurance. oh, boo hoo. with all the state licensing and insurance company bureaucracy and pharmaceutical costs, it's no wonder doctors have been getting screwed for years ---and the screwing gets passed on to the patient. when i was a kid, the doctor gave us a cough syrup or whatever we needed right out of the medicine cabinet in his office. no need to go to a drug store unless you needed something he didn't have on hand. it was another income stream for the doctor----greedy big pharma took that away from doctors years ago. and talk about escalating costs!--the script you pay $100 for costs 8 cents a piece to make...if that! also, when i was a kid, a doctor might have seen 10 patients during a typical day---he was able to spend time and get to know the person, their family AND learn about their complaint. now things have changed and they are forced to see 35+ patients a day to keep up with their operating costs...that shakes out to them sometimes spending 7 minutes with a patient. which is part of the reason why you have to now have so many tests and pay even more for the privilege of doing so....they can't spend enough time with you!! i'm sure they're tired...they are, after all, human, and need rest. and then there's the licensing thing....any license--drivers, medical, pet---is a revenue stream for the state. people are mistaken to think that a license will ensure that they will get the 'best' care. so all medical doctors are licensed in this country....and still these mishaps occur. imagine that.
sound harsh? not really. we need to see the complete picture and learn the history to understand how we arrived where we are today...or in this case, got into the mess we find ourselves in today. debbie is just one case...there are millions! and this could happen to any one of you reading this now.
education, experience and genuine interest in the well being of people ensure good care. that's priceless.
so pony up, people. stand your ground and refuse to be bullied. you may even feel better about yourself, and your children will thank you down the road.
Kristy Mills, Traditional Naturopath, CNHP
October 25, 2008 - 11:39amLagunaNaturalHealth.com
This Comment
Reply