We live in Juneau, Alaska. My wife's personal physician recommended she see a specialist in Seattle, WA to answer some questions about a lump (Thyroid.) The specialist advised her to have the whole thyroid removed. A general surgeon here in Juneau was contacted to do the procedure. Neither of us were advised that the procedure might be changed once they "got in there." In fact, the hospital staff was very adamate about my Wife knowing (and telling them) what procedure she was in for (total thyroidectomy.) We were advised that this should be a 2 to 3 hour procedure. 6 Hours later she was out of the OR. The doctor had removed only half of the organ, explaning that they tested the first half and found it to be not cancerous. 5 days later the pathology report came back stating that the tissue WAS cancerous.
If a specialist recommended the procedure, and that's what she was in for, is it up to the general surgeon (contract labor, right? There to perform a prescribed procedure...no more no less.) to make the call to end the procedure early? It's going to be hard enough to pay for the procedure once (insurance is not covering this one!) and now we're told it will have to be done a second time to remove the half that should have been removed before.
Is this malpractice? Breach of contract? What recourse do we have if any? Comments? | 
07-02-2001, 01:08 AM
Linear Mode
