Oubliette331
Junior Member
I don’t know why you get the impression that I don’t take this whole ordeal very seriously. My issue is that the hospital didn’t take it seriously enough.
a person that takes cocain AND heroin is not a newbie to the game.To clarify for the above poster, she is not addicted to heroin or opiates. She is not physically dependent on narcotics. She does have depression and often self medicates, usually with alcohol. In this incident, she was discovered by her roommate unresponsive in bed and told the Hospital that she had taken alcohol, Xanax, cocaine, and heroin (noted in her record). The Hospital assumed she was a heroin addict and diagnosed it as an “intentional heroin overdose.” Despite labeling it as intentional, they did no psych evaluation to find out whether she was suicidal or a danger to herself and offered no mental health or rehab resources, which I believe they ususally would in that kind of situation. They didn’t run a toxicology to find out what levels of what substances were in her system at a toxic level.
The medical record includes zero commentary or diagnosis for the blood results which included abnormal levels for WBC, HGB, HCT, RDW, GRANULOCYTES, IMM GRAN, LYMPHS, ABS NRBC, and ABSOLUTE GRAN. Plus low CO2, high glucose, high creatinine, and low GFRE. No toxicology, no urinalysis. Additional lab tests had been ordered but were cancelled before the results came back after they discharged her. She doesn’t have a primary care physician. We were told by another doctor at the hospital that they are supposed to provide a contact for an on-call hospital doctor for follow up care in that situation. The discharge instructions actually have “fill in the blank” sections where the physicians names are supposed to be and were left blank. They didn’t explain her lab results to her, didn’t inform her of any symptoms which should warrant a return to the ER or possible complications that could develop.
Yet she required narcanBut I was stating that she is not PHYSICALLY DEPENDANT on heroin and that a small amount was ingested and not by IV,
take it to a MED/MAL Attorney.How can they make sure she is stable if they don’t order standard tests like toxicology and urinalysis? They can’t even make a definitive diagnosis without those results. There were a total of 13 flagged items on her blood and plasma lab results. They didn’t address or explain that neither to her or in the medical record. The discharge instructions stated “Follow up with your physician ____ in 2-5 days. If you don’t have a physician please call the following on-call doctor for follow up care:____.” There were blanks where contact info was supposed to be filled in. They didn’t explain any risks, complications, or symptoms to watch out for and seek medical attention if experiencing, especially considering her blood results and vitals were all messed up.
And if they diagnosed it as an intentional overdose, then they definitely should have done a psych evaluation with a mobile crisis worker before deciding if she was “stable.”
They observed her for how many hours?How can they make sure she is stable if they don’t order standard tests like toxicology and urinalysis? They can’t even make a definitive diagnosis without those results. There were a total of 13 flagged items on her blood and plasma lab results. They didn’t address or explain that neither to her or in the medical record. The discharge instructions stated “Follow up with your physician ____ in 2-5 days. If you don’t have a physician please call the following on-call doctor for follow up care:____.” There were blanks where contact info was supposed to be filled in. They didn’t explain any risks, complications, or symptoms to watch out for and seek medical attention if experiencing, especially considering her blood results and vitals were all messed up.
And if they diagnosed it as an intentional overdose, then they definitely should have done a psych evaluation with a mobile crisis worker before deciding if she was “stable.”
I am curious. Were you with her at the ER?K. For one, you cant force an adult into rehab or counseling. Nor can you enter a rehab whilst needing dialysis three times a week. Two, I would not be obtaining a lawyer as it is her situation and most lawyers dont require upfront fees for a consult.
Next, you really dont understand the whole bit about physical opiate addiction.Narcan reverses any opiate overdose in any person, addicted or not.
The test results were things that could indicate poor kidney function. Organ failure is a possible complication of drug overdose. Without knowing what drugs were in her system and at what levels they had no way of evaluating what type of danger she might still be in.
And yes they actually are obligated to give her the phone number of the on-call doctor for a follow up if thats who they instruct her to see. Thats literally her only way of knowing who to contact.
I really do feel that your sister needs a consult with a medical malpractice attorney, perhaps with another family member present to ensure that the attorney gets the full story.I don’t know why you get the impression that I don’t take this whole ordeal very seriously. My issue is that the hospital didn’t take it seriously enough.
How do they know who will be on call so they can provide the correct phone number. But since they didn’t instruct her to see the on call doctor (whoever that poor would that works 24/7 may be) so they didn’t have to provide a phone number, right?K. For one, you canÂ’t force an adult into rehab or counseling. Nor can you enter a rehab whilst needing dialysis three times a week. Two, I would not be obtaining a lawyer as it is her situation and most lawyers donÂ’t require upfront fees for a consult.
Next, you really donÂ’t understand the whole bit about physical opiate addiction.Narcan reverses any opiate overdose in any person, addicted or not.
The test results were things that could indicate poor kidney function. Organ failure is a possible complication of drug overdose. Without knowing what drugs were in her system and at what levels they had no way of evaluating what type of danger she might still be in.
And yes they actually are obligated to give her the phone number of the on-call doctor for a follow up if thatÂ’s who they instruct her to see. ThatÂ’s literally her only way of knowing who to contact.
Well, if it’s not about the money you should just stop now since that is the only thing the medical providers would be required to go do is pay your sister.It’s not that complicated, whoever is on call at the time takes the call to see the patient. Or they schedule your appointment upon discharge.
My sister’s treatment and recovery and whether the hospital was negligent are two entirely different topics, one of which isn’t really up for discussion here. It’s not about financial gain. It’s about my sister could have died and is still in serious trouble. It’s aboht the tendency to dismiss anyone viewed as a “junkie” and not prioritize their health as you would any other patient due to personal bias. A demographic of people with the least amount of resources as it is and not in the position to advocate for themselves or seek recourse when neglected or harmed.
Your sister is lucky to have a caring sibling.Its not that complicated, whoever is on call at the time takes the call to see the patient. Or they schedule your appointment upon discharge.
My sisters treatment and recovery and whether the hospital was negligent are two entirely different topics, one of which isnt really up for discussion here. Its not about financial gain. Its about my sister could have died and is still in serious trouble. Its aboht the tendency to dismiss anyone viewed as a junkie and not prioritize their health as you would any other patient due to personal bias. A demographic of people with the least amount of resources as it is and not in the position to advocate for themselves or seek recourse when neglected or harmed.