Patient not told he had Hep C

[Sw3tflower]

I went to a clinic for stomach pain. Blood work was done. I was not told results. but I was immediately transferred to hospital for removal of gallbladder. During 4 day stay I had blood work done everyday and told everything looked good. Several months later I went to my physician and as he looked through the chart he was shocked to find I tested positive for chronic Hepatitis C, but nowhere on the chart did it indicate I was told. I was not told. I called the clinic and asked why I was not told and no followup done. They said it was the hospital's responsibility since they took over my care. I called the hospital and they said it was the responsibility of the doctor who ordered the tests.The clinic doctor. Who dropped the ball? I was not told I had Hepatitis C and no one followed through with providing me medical help, treatment or sending me to another doctor for treatment. I went nearly 1 year without treatment. Does this meet the standard of malpractice?

 

[quincy]

You are (or were) a registered nurse in California, correct?

 

[Sw3tflower]

Was. Retired 30 years ago.

 

[quincy]

Was. Retired 30 years ago.

You say "he" in your title but I understand from your posting history that you are a "she." Was this just a typing error?

If you see a doctor annually, you would most likely have been made aware that you had chronic hepatitis C. A blood test would have detected it.

Although the virus in its early stages often displays no worrisome symptoms, I do still question why you learned of the hepatitis C only after your trip to the hospital for gallbladder surgery.

The blood test at the clinic might have tested positive for hepatitis C antibodies but the antibodies alone only show that you were at one time infected with the hepatitis C virus.

There is no treatment for the acute form of the virus and it often clears on its own after a few months. It is chronic hepatitis C if the virus has not cleared within 6 months. There are several drugs available to effectively treat (and cure) the chronic form of hepatitis C.

Before thinking about a lawsuit, I recommend you speak to your doctor about the blood test results and then get your blood retested.

You can consult with a medical malpractice attorney after you learn more about the blood test results and what they mean. The initial appointment with the attorney should be free and most med-mal attorneys take cases on a contingency basis (you don't pay unless you are successful with your suit).

Good luck.