Actual Text "How to Complain?"

[brainysmurfette]

Sorry, there seemed to be a error when I originally tried to post.

I had a c-section at the birth of my daughter a year ago. (I had HELLP and severe pre-e, and my kidneys were failing. They did try to induce, but I didn't have any contractions after 12 hours of pitocin.) Anyhow, my issue is that I had been given an epidural and more medication was supposedly given prior to the surgery. The anathesiologist did a "pin prick" test, which I felt the pricks, and I told him that I felt them. Then, I felt the pre-surgery shave which was mildly painful, followed by a line of fire across the area (incision possibly?). My memory is blacked out from that point on. My husband said I was screaming through most of the surgery. I spoke with the OB at the 6 week PP appointment, and she said that I had had an abnormal pain response to the surgery--to the point that she told the anathesiologist to give me something b/c it was distracting her.

I later obtained my medical records, and the anathesiologist report has a note "pt continued to complain of pain despite no sensation to pinprick of unclear work on requested exam." There is no indication that any additional pain medication was given to me. However, I was give 4 dose of propofol in increasing amounts. I believe that this particular drug did nothing to relieve my pain, but did erase my memory (including the memory of my daughter's birth). This drug also has inactive components that are derived from eggs, which I am allergic to, and the ananthesiologist was made aware of this allergy prior to the surgery.

I feel that the anathesiologist did not act properly, did not listen to me, and this resulting in my having major surgery done with inadequate anasthesia. I want to make a complaint through the hospital, but I am not sure how to go about doing this. Are any of you familiar with the process of how I would do this?

Thanks.

[mwherbs]

Originally Posted by brainysmurfette

I had a c-section at the birth of my daughter a year ago. (I had HELLP and severe pre-e, and my kidneys were failing. They did try to induce, but I didn't have any contractions after 12 hours of pitocin.) Anyhow, my issue is that I had been given an epidural and more medication was supposedly given prior to the surgery. The anathesiologist did a "pin prick" test, which I felt the pricks, and I told him that I felt them. Then, I felt the pre-surgery shave which was mildly painful, followed by a line of fire across the area (incision possibly?). My memory is blacked out from that point on. My husband said I was screaming through most of the surgery. I spoke with the OB at the 6 week PP appointment, and she said that I had had an abnormal pain response to the surgery--to the point that she told the anathesiologist to give me something b/c it was distracting her.

I feel that the anathesiologist did not act properly, did not listen to me, and this resulting in my having major surgery done with inadequate anasthesia.

Thanks.

I have trimmed your post this is pretty close to what would work for a letter-- best not get in to speculation about why or what all was done from their point of view just let them know what YOUR experience was--- you said you could feel the pin pricks and the shaving- it goes directly against the record which they will pull out and look at --- and if nothing else the rest of your reactions support your statement- and go against the notes the anesthesiologist wrote--
so there are several places copies of your letter should go--
the hospital administrator's office, your OB, (I don't know how anesthesiology is structured but if there is a head of that department) your insurance company, and the state board, Keep a copy for yourself and the addresses of who you sent copies to and keep the replies- probably all in a folder- --

[kate3]

best not get in to speculation about why or what all was done from their point of view just let them know what YOUR experience was

This is an excellent suggestion. This is about what happened to YOU, and the focus of the letter needs to present the facts related to your experience.

Letters should go to: president/ceo of hospital, head of anesthesia group, state medical board. You can send one to your OB so they are aware of the problem you had with this particular anesthesiologist, but they have no authority to discipline him in any way. You should also log on to the website for your state medical board and find out how to file a "formal" claim-the letter probably won't be enough. There is usually a specific way to file.

Also, make sure all words are spell checked and the grammer is correct. Set it up like a business letter. Looks count. Nothing will get your letter disregarded quicker than typos/incomplete sentences/missing punctuation, etc.

[brainysmurfette]

Thank you for the advice. I can definitely handle a few letters, and I agree about sticking to the facts from my point of view. I can be 100% certain of what I write that way. I think that will satisfy my my two main motivations--to make this doctor aware of what happened (with the hope that he won't do it to another unfortunate woman), and to feel that I stood up for myself. In any case, I will have #2 at a different hospital. After my experience, I want care from a high-risk group.