What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ks
Early morning on March 4, 2011, my father presented to Medical Center with severe chest pains. ER Doctor did EKG and other lab work and felt my dad was experiencing esophagus erosion. ER Doctor suggested my dad be admitted to the hospital and checked by a cardiologist in the morning, however stated he was 99% sure it had nothing to do with his heart. My father signed himself out of the ER AMA, opting to see his personal physician the first thing in the morning. My dad was seen by his primary doctor that morning. Primary doctor diagnosed him with esophagus erosion, gave him RX for Prilosec and Lortab 5. My dad continued to feel weak and began experiencing pain in his neck. The chiropractor told my father that something was out of place in his neck and he was working on getting it back in place. The pain in my father's neck moved from side to side and the chiropractor claimed that whatever he was moving back to place wasn't staying in place. The chiropractor gave my dad another RX for Lortab 5, told him to use a neck massager, and told him to keep coming back. Approximately March 6, 2011, my father returned to his primary doctor with continued pain. At this time the doctor gave my father a lidocainesolution to drink that was to numb his throat and help with the pain he was experiencing. My dad continued to see his chiropractor almost every other day until March 18th. On March 18th, my dad went again to his primary doctor for a recheck of his esophagus, he was continuing to experience pain in his neck and chest and shortness of air. The primary doctor immediately sent him to hospital via ambulance and his heart was found to be in A-Fib rhythm. A cardiologist there shocked his heart back to regular rhythm and admitted him to the hospital for observation. On March 21st, a hear cath was performed and my father was found to have a hole, tear, and aneurysm in his heart. Cardiologist reported this was from a massive heart attack. The afternoon of March 21st, the heart surgeon advised my father that his heart was too weak to withstand surgery at that time, so they were going to wait approximately 6 weeks. After receiving this news I debated sending my father to a heart specialty hospital. The director of the Cardiology department encouraged me to not transfer my father as they had a very capable heart surgeon there. On the morning of March 22, 2011, a nephrologist came to my dad's room and advised us that his kidneys and liver were not working properly and he would get them "in tip-top shape prior to surgery". Approximately 2 hours after the nephrologist left, my father coded at the hospital. They did manage to regain a pulse on my dad and they immediately transferred him to heart specialty hospital. On the morning of March 22nd, we seen the heart surgeon who advised us he must perform surgery immediately because of the kidneys and liver failing due to a lack of blood supply. Surgeon stated the first 72 hours would be critical after surgery. Surgery was performed and my father was on respirator and dialysis following surgery. On March 23rd, my father appeared to be regaing consiousness slightly, gagging on his ventilator, moving his lips and legs, and turning his head to look at people. On March 24, my father showed no signs of alertness and we were told his liver was failing and the dialysis was doing the work of his kidneys. On March 25, 2011, we learned that my father's liver appeared to be improving. On March 26, surgeon reported that liver function again worsening. My dad continued to deteriorate until on March 30, 2011 when were told his pupils were fixed and dilated and organs were not going to improve. ICU director advised we should make a decision on whether to stop meds, stop dialysis, or stop vent; any of which would lead to his passing. We decided to extubate him and he passed approx 20 minutes following. The heart surgeon advised that my dad's heart surgery had repaired the heart, however due to the liver not working the heart could not survive in that polluted environment. I am very concerned as to:
1. my father's primary doctor continued to diagnose him with esophaeal corrosion from March 4th to March 18th
2. Chiropractor continued to treat my dad from March 4th to March 18th telling him something "was popped out".
3. Nephrologist at first hospital told my father we had to get his kidneys and liver in tip top shape prior to surgery when the heart was what was causing the organ failure.
4. That the cardiologist at first hospital waited from March 18th until March 21st to do the heart cath.
5. The cardiology dept. director in at first hospital advised me that their heart surgeon was competent to take care of my father's condition and then they end up sending him to specialty hospital the next morning.
6. The cardiologist at first hospital was going to wait 6 weeks to perform my dad's heart surgery, while his organs were not getting adequate blood supply from the heart and were failing.
Would this not be malpractice?
Early morning on March 4, 2011, my father presented to Medical Center with severe chest pains. ER Doctor did EKG and other lab work and felt my dad was experiencing esophagus erosion. ER Doctor suggested my dad be admitted to the hospital and checked by a cardiologist in the morning, however stated he was 99% sure it had nothing to do with his heart. My father signed himself out of the ER AMA, opting to see his personal physician the first thing in the morning. My dad was seen by his primary doctor that morning. Primary doctor diagnosed him with esophagus erosion, gave him RX for Prilosec and Lortab 5. My dad continued to feel weak and began experiencing pain in his neck. The chiropractor told my father that something was out of place in his neck and he was working on getting it back in place. The pain in my father's neck moved from side to side and the chiropractor claimed that whatever he was moving back to place wasn't staying in place. The chiropractor gave my dad another RX for Lortab 5, told him to use a neck massager, and told him to keep coming back. Approximately March 6, 2011, my father returned to his primary doctor with continued pain. At this time the doctor gave my father a lidocainesolution to drink that was to numb his throat and help with the pain he was experiencing. My dad continued to see his chiropractor almost every other day until March 18th. On March 18th, my dad went again to his primary doctor for a recheck of his esophagus, he was continuing to experience pain in his neck and chest and shortness of air. The primary doctor immediately sent him to hospital via ambulance and his heart was found to be in A-Fib rhythm. A cardiologist there shocked his heart back to regular rhythm and admitted him to the hospital for observation. On March 21st, a hear cath was performed and my father was found to have a hole, tear, and aneurysm in his heart. Cardiologist reported this was from a massive heart attack. The afternoon of March 21st, the heart surgeon advised my father that his heart was too weak to withstand surgery at that time, so they were going to wait approximately 6 weeks. After receiving this news I debated sending my father to a heart specialty hospital. The director of the Cardiology department encouraged me to not transfer my father as they had a very capable heart surgeon there. On the morning of March 22, 2011, a nephrologist came to my dad's room and advised us that his kidneys and liver were not working properly and he would get them "in tip-top shape prior to surgery". Approximately 2 hours after the nephrologist left, my father coded at the hospital. They did manage to regain a pulse on my dad and they immediately transferred him to heart specialty hospital. On the morning of March 22nd, we seen the heart surgeon who advised us he must perform surgery immediately because of the kidneys and liver failing due to a lack of blood supply. Surgeon stated the first 72 hours would be critical after surgery. Surgery was performed and my father was on respirator and dialysis following surgery. On March 23rd, my father appeared to be regaing consiousness slightly, gagging on his ventilator, moving his lips and legs, and turning his head to look at people. On March 24, my father showed no signs of alertness and we were told his liver was failing and the dialysis was doing the work of his kidneys. On March 25, 2011, we learned that my father's liver appeared to be improving. On March 26, surgeon reported that liver function again worsening. My dad continued to deteriorate until on March 30, 2011 when were told his pupils were fixed and dilated and organs were not going to improve. ICU director advised we should make a decision on whether to stop meds, stop dialysis, or stop vent; any of which would lead to his passing. We decided to extubate him and he passed approx 20 minutes following. The heart surgeon advised that my dad's heart surgery had repaired the heart, however due to the liver not working the heart could not survive in that polluted environment. I am very concerned as to:
1. my father's primary doctor continued to diagnose him with esophaeal corrosion from March 4th to March 18th
2. Chiropractor continued to treat my dad from March 4th to March 18th telling him something "was popped out".
3. Nephrologist at first hospital told my father we had to get his kidneys and liver in tip top shape prior to surgery when the heart was what was causing the organ failure.
4. That the cardiologist at first hospital waited from March 18th until March 21st to do the heart cath.
5. The cardiology dept. director in at first hospital advised me that their heart surgeon was competent to take care of my father's condition and then they end up sending him to specialty hospital the next morning.
6. The cardiologist at first hospital was going to wait 6 weeks to perform my dad's heart surgery, while his organs were not getting adequate blood supply from the heart and were failing.
Would this not be malpractice?
