Navy Medical

What is the name of your state? What is the name of your state? Florida

I've been in the Navy since November, 2002. While I was in boot camp, my appendix ruptured. In December, a Navy doctor performed emergency surgery. Approx. two days later I was released from the hospital and sent back to boot camp without limited duty or sick in quarters. Fortunately, the RDCs allowed me to stay in my rack. That night i was in extreme pain and the next morning I could not stand up or get out of my rack. An ambulance was called and I was readmitted to the hospital after hours of exams and CTs. Radiology concluded that I had Internal bleeding during/after surgery. A significant amount. The pain was unbearable. I was started on ms contin for the pain and tylox for the fevers, etc. My blood cell count was off, signaling that there was something very wrong. I lay in the hospital for two more weeks while the doctor did nothing. He said that he was afraid that if he performed surgery again I would need a transfusion. He discharged me from the hospital into a medical holding company inside the hospital that was run by navy (not medical) personnel. Naturally, I could barely walk and I was constantly crying from the level 10 pain. Needless to say I was again admitted to the hospital. My husband was in boot camp at the same time, so he was unable to help me. My father drove 14 hours to see me. When he realized how much pain I was in and that the doctor had no plans of draining the blood, he went through the chain of command till he reached the top. The Navy doctor then sent me to radiology to have a drain put in my side. This procedure lessened the amount of blood, but after time it had to be removed. I was then sent to a very expensive civilian hospital to "fix" me. They performed many CTs, exams, and put more drains in my side. They also treated me for staph(sp?) infection with strong antibiotics. I spent about a month in the civilian hospital. Returning to the Navy Hospital, the doctor asked me why I was in a wheelchair and could I not walk either. He was very unprofessional as he said "You know your father has caused me a lot of trouble." And I cried as he continued to talk about my father and what he didn't understand. I asked the doctor if there would be any long term damage or if there was a chance that the staph infection could return. He then said that I had never had staph, etc. I had been on ms contin & tylox/oxy contin & percocet for twenty four hours a day, two months straight if not longer. I had no muscle tone, and I could still barely walk. The Navy doctor took me off medication in two days. He said that if I had any trouble, I could go to his office and the nurses would contact him for me. I was in a routine meeting with the Chaplain when I stared to feel like I couldn't breathe, I started crying and I felt like the walls were closing in. I was hyperventalating as I walked down to his office. His nurses refused to call him. They offered to call a Chaplain for me since I was crying and couldn't breathe. My stomach was distended for about 3 weeks at least after the last time I was discharged. Convienently for them, they "lost my medical record." The only part of the surgery/procedures that was included in the new medical record was the documentation of the original Lap Appy that said that blood loss was "minimal" and there were "no complications." In order to graduate boot camp with my new division, I pushed myself in Physical Therapy. I developed my muscles faster than I should have and since then I have had severe knee pain due to Patella Femoral Syndrome (PFS). It is because of this knee pain that I am now being discharged without disability. If anyone has any recommendations/answers, please reply.

[ellencee]

navy ollie
If you are asking about medical malpractice, the medical records from all facilities (including physical therapy) would have to be reviewed. The claim of lost medical records leads me to believe your records were shipped out to the medical insurance liability carrier and are only obtainable via subpoena.

The internal bleeding, the staph infection, etc. do not necessarily indicate malpractice.

The method of providing treatment to you during this difficult recovery period seems unusually harsh and cruel and not provided in a manner that would facilitate a healthy and prompt recovery but would facilitate a prompt discharge from the Navy. I am of the opinion that you injured yourself by attempting to return to normal and full duty before you were physically able to do so.

It is no myth or exaggeration that medical care is frequently rendered differently, if not substandardly, to women with certain physical complaints and the same applies to women who develop lengthy illnesses while in the military--it is no myth or exaggeration that the women are more promptly discharged and without disability consideration.

I question whether or not your treatment was delivered more on the basis of your being a 'weak woman' than on your being a member of the United States military or a human being regardless of occupation.

I hope that you will seek legal counsel in this matter. Even if you gain nothing but the satisfaction of being heard by the Navy, perhaps you will spare the next Navy woman or man from receiving the same level of care that was provided to you.

That being said, let me add this--it is far too soon to be able to tell if your knee injury has resulted in a permanent partial disability or if it is an injury that will resolve with treatment or on its on. An attorney can assist you with this issue, also.

I hate to say this, but take your Dad with you when you have your initial appointment with the attorney, or have Dad available by telephone so the attorney can obtain information from him (if necessary).

Best wishes,
EC