Letter from a Reader: Doctor's Negligence Leads to Severe Pain

Image courtesy of www.negligenceprofessionals.co.uk

Hello FashionPulis,

Allow me to share my experience with this certain doctor from a private hospital in San Juan.

Last July 5, 2013, I had an operation for the removal of my myoma (Total Abdominal Hysterectomy, Left salpingo-oophorectomy/ Pfannenstiel Incision/GAOT). The procedure was performed at this private hospital in San Juan by this certain doctor, who is affiliated with our HMO, Intellicare.

Several months after the operation was performed, I started experiencing severe abdominal pains (worse, like labor pains), severe pain during urination, vaginal bleeding (which I thought was normal), discharges with foul odor, vaginal infection, constant hypertension, and fever.

On October 24, 2014, I went see an ob-gynecologist at in a mall for what I thought was urinary tract infection. The doctor there advised me to go back to the doctor who performed the surgery because there was a suture from my operation that caused bleeding and infection.

I went back to to my doctor last October 25, 2014 to complain about these problems, and she performed tests, namely, urinalysis, CBC, transvaginal ultrasound, pap smear, and FBS. My doctor also advised me to seek clearance from my cardiologist for possible surgery. Further tests, namely, ECG, PT, PTT, and X-ray were needed.

However, the pain kept recurring and worsened. Even after several tests, my doctor could still not find anything wrong. She started giving me verbal diagnosis, such as telling me that I may have cancer or a scratch.

Prescribed medicine, such as antibiotics and pain relievers, did not improve my condition. During these times, I became depressed and anxious of my situation. My work got affected, as I was recurrently absent because of physical pain. My superior almost terminated me because I could not carry out my work properly. A very good career opportunity did not push through because of my absences from work, and I missed out on the merit increase cycle because of this situation.

Our finances were depleting. Since I have consumed my leave balances, I was on a “no work, no pay” status. I kept buying and taking medicines that did not cure me. My husband needed to attend to me and my children, and missed his work duties. Hence, he did not get his daily allowance as well. As a result, the relationship with my husband and children suffered. As I was unable to care for my children well, time spent with my family suffered. I had emotional anxiety, and my body was fatigued with laboratory tests. We were all mentally and emotionally in pain because of my situation.

In November 17, I had a checkup with another OB. She saw the suture had not dissolved .She said that it was the cause of all that I have been experiencing. The suture was there all along and was not removed. It was a clear manifestation of carelessness. She also advised me to have kidney and bladder ultrasound just to make sure that those organs were not affected.

Finally, the suture was removed last November 19, 2014 in the same hospital. We got in touch with someone in the higher ups, who promised us settlement. However, my doctor seemed to keep delaying the process and made me feel stupid, too. As per my operation technique dated last July 2013, the report said that my cervix was removed, but as per my transvaginal (performed at the same hospital with their OB) test last October 2014, the result said that my cervix was very much intact. I was simply told that perhaps it was probably my fats, which showed that laboratories and equipment in their facilities were not accurate.

Thank you so much Fashion Pulis for publishing my story. I hope something positive will come out of this.

Sincerely,
Lani

Note: FashionPulis is open to the side of the involved parties. Letter was edited for brevity and publication purposes.