Horrifying experience in a hosipital! Please read/comment

[gaya123]

Hi there,

A On 28th June 2010, at about 12.30 p.m. I accompanied my mother aged 50years to the hospital. She was having the following symptoms:
1. dizziness
2. weak and no appetite and feeling like wanting to faint
3. diahorea in the morning4.Pain in the lower abdomen near the groin area( She has a history of kidney stones.
There were two small stones detected in the right kidney few months ago)
5. Nausea

The doctor examined my mom and informed that my mother was required to go through blood test and urine test. However, the doctor took blood in her right arm and at the same time inserted a needle for drips. He did not explain what caused of action he is going to take on my mom and told us to wait. My mom was placed at observation ward. My mother submitted the urine for tests. Two hours later doctor recalled my mother to the examination room and informed that the blood test reveals that blood had been infected slightly. Thereafter, he prescribed medicines and discharge my mother.

The nurse removed the drips needles, without any drips given. However, I questioned the doctor, as what could be the cause/reason for the infection.Doctor told me that it could be food poisoning. We left and was shocked to note at the Pharmacy that there were no medicine prescribed for the infection and only pain killers. The Pharmacist contacted the doctor and doctor arrived at the Pharmacy and discussed with the Pharmacist. Later, my mother was given some anti biotic for the infection of blood. Doctor did not take any effort to further discuss with the patient and just left. i felt something was not correct and later request to the customer service officer and re admitted to Observation ward. At this moment, my mother was attended by a senior doctor, who put my mother on drips for dehydration and alter sent her for Scan of the head. My father later arrived and discussed with the senior doctor and he advised to be admitted to the ward for further admission. The next day the urologist and other ward doctors examined my mother. Urologist informed that there were stone near to the bladder and gave medicines.


Blood test:The doctor basically extracted some blood and also pierced the needle for drips. He then told my mom to do her urine test and directed her to the observatory ward to get her drips done. Test results:Based on the test results the doctor concluded that it was possibly food poisoning and he is well aware of her condition of kidney stones in the kidney as my mom seeked treatment in the same hospital. He said that the blood was infected but nothing to be alarming. He discharged her and got the nurse to remove the needles.

Nurse poor hygiene:The nurse did not wear any gloves while taking out needle. This compromises the patients health as she could have attended physically to another contagious patient. I find this very wrong.

Pharmacy:According to prescription, there were only pain killers to ease any dizziness,pain and discomfort. Doctor had mentioned blood infection which sounds alarming to a layman and she was shocked and furious that there were no antibiotics to cure the "blood infection". We told the pharmacist to contact the doctor and after a short conversation he prescribed antibiotics. This makes the medication untrustworthy! The patient has no confidence in what the doctor has prescribed for her.

Complaint:We made a complaint and a chief doctor who attended to us. He said my mom was! very dehydrated and placed her on drips once again piercing the patient once more. Why couldn't the previous doctor see that she was dehydrated?? Is there any explanation as to why he didn't prescribe antibiotics?? Please let me know .My mom suffered a great deal being poked several times for drips and the chief doctor checked her thoroughly for possible brain disorders and even told us that she had a tension headache not migraine which she initially thought she had. I found that the nurse made a grave mistake not putting on gloves and possible the doctor as well.

Issues:

1. Could it be a mal practice for a trained nurse not wearing gloves, when removing the drips needle for patients? This could be a failure on the nursing Management to allow such practice?

2. Why didn't the doctor realise that my mom was dehydrated and why did the senior doctor identify that? Could it be that the chief doctor took more effort to ensure the patient was properly examined and the first doctor neglected the patient!? What could be the rules and regulation for a doctor to observe for the above patient.

3.What was the reason for treating the infected blood?

4. As a professional doctor, he had decided to put her on drips and pierced needles and subsequently decided not to put my mother on drips. doctors decision was appropriate and undecided and discharging the patient without performing other clinical test for the infected blood. Subsequently the senior doctor decided to put my mother on drips and had to piecers needles for the drip. Why should patient suffer for error done by doctors.As a lay person, I do not have the knowledge of medical practices and ethical for medical profession. I need help from professional body to address my issue to the Hospital Management. I welcome all comment! so from the members in the forums and medical professionals as well. My worries, if patient could have been in danger and a patients body should be respected and not treated like a garbage bin. For a layman, the medication prescribed was not described in detail by the doctor neither did he mention what exactly my mom's condition was . They could have missed something really important and risk a patients life. I'm hoping that someone will be able to clear and enlighten my doubts and give their opinions.


Best Regards,
Gayethiri