An elderly relative was in very good health for her age, able to drive, walk, shop, visit people, cook, and clean her home. Covid and the pandemic started and she had to stay home like everyone. She rarely went out except for groceries. She got a rash. Her doctor wouldn't see her and told her it sounded like shingles, even though he did not see her in person or a photo. He diagnosed her over the phone, no video. He prescribed a heavy duty medication. She drove herself to pick it up. She took 2 pills as directed. She called family to say she felt strange, she sounded sleepy and confused. Family went to check her. They took her to urgent care. The place would not allow anyone in except her because this was the start of the pandemic and everyone was worried about covid. They thought she might have covid and sent her home to be watched. Relatives stayed with her. She began acting really strange and sick. They called an ambulance. The EMTs were shocked that the doctor prescribed that medicine for her. They said she could be having a reaction to the medicine and to watch her. A few hours later, she started going crazy mentally. Another ambulance was called and she was rushed to the hospital. She went into kidney failure. They had to do emergency dialysis. They diagnosed her with stage 4 renal failure. This began a huge decline in her health, several hospitalizations, and dialysis treatments 3 times a week. We found out the medication prescribed to her was listed as being dangerous for anyone over 62 years old, and she was 82 years. It had side effects listed as causing kidney disease and other side effects. He prescribed it without seeing her or doing any tests on her. We were so angry, but didn't know what to do. The doctors believed the medication may have caused it but with covid happening, nobody was allowed to be with her in the hospital, no visitors, no one allowed in to see doctors to talk about it, all doctor communication was over the phone. There was an incident at the hospital where they did not put her in the bed securely and she fell out and hit her head. They had to do a ctscan on her. We wanted to sue the doctor and hospital, but our family was sick with covid a few times and other health issues that made it difficult to talk to lawyers or get help. The patient said she didn't know if she could handle a lawsuit in her condition. We didn't know if we could file on her behalf. Everything was horrible. When it first happened, the doctor left messages on her phone, saying he was concerned about her, and he sounded worried. A relative returned a call to tell him what happened but nothing happened after that and we never heard from the doctor again. The stress on all of us taking care of her has been horrible sometimes.
A few years later and she can't walk or care for herself. She needs 24 hour care either at home or in a facility which she can not afford. Her finances are not going to cover this anymore and we are trying to help but we can't afford it either. Everything is very expensive as we all know. I think it is extremely unfair and wrong that the doctor got away with this. And the hospital when she fell. We believe the doctor should've been responsible for her medical bills that are directly caused by what he did. We never wanted an outrageous lawsuit, only what she deserved because the medication caused this. We realize it may be too late to take action, but some people we talked to said we should try. They said they never would have let him get away with this if it had been their relative. We wanted to sue when it happened, but as I said so many things were messed up during the pandemic, and our own health issues. We had no one to help us. Is it too late to file a lawsuit on her behalf? I read that in some cases there can be exceptions, and covid/pandemic is one. Please no harsh replies. If we can't do anything, or waited too long, I understand. We thought it would be worth asking advice in case there was any hope. Seeing her suffer has been horrible.
A few years later and she can't walk or care for herself. She needs 24 hour care either at home or in a facility which she can not afford. Her finances are not going to cover this anymore and we are trying to help but we can't afford it either. Everything is very expensive as we all know. I think it is extremely unfair and wrong that the doctor got away with this. And the hospital when she fell. We believe the doctor should've been responsible for her medical bills that are directly caused by what he did. We never wanted an outrageous lawsuit, only what she deserved because the medication caused this. We realize it may be too late to take action, but some people we talked to said we should try. They said they never would have let him get away with this if it had been their relative. We wanted to sue when it happened, but as I said so many things were messed up during the pandemic, and our own health issues. We had no one to help us. Is it too late to file a lawsuit on her behalf? I read that in some cases there can be exceptions, and covid/pandemic is one. Please no harsh replies. If we can't do anything, or waited too long, I understand. We thought it would be worth asking advice in case there was any hope. Seeing her suffer has been horrible.