How Would You Proceed? Advice Please Long

[whatsup]

Sorry to hear of your medical situation, however I don't feel the doctor is responsible for your passing out and you stated that you are not sure to go back to this doctor because you passed out. You may or may not pass out again anytime, anywhere and around anyone. No, you shouldn't sue. Maybe if the nurse had knocked you over the head, yes. But no one can predict when these things will happen be thankful you were somewhere where you got help and not alone. If this had happened while you were driving would you sue yourself?

 

[indimom]

I would chalk it up to an accident, let my medical insurance handle the bills (and pay my portion) and continue to use the doctor I trust. I would also follow up to see if there was any medical reason for passing out; and, if nothing is found, proceed with caution in the future on the off chance I have a repeat performance.

 

[Christine]

OP, you had a vasovagal response to having your sutures removed. This response is fairly common with some people when they have any type of "needle" procedure done to them. If you go to have blood drawn from a lab, they will often try to watch for this but usually they don't.

My cousin's 16 year old son went with his dad to have some blood drawn. The tech took his blood, put a bandaid on him, he stood up to leave, started walking out and then he fell and passed out. He hit his head and they had to call an ambulance and take him to the hospital. The lab was in no way responsible and your I don't think your doctor's office is either.

Now that you know you have this propensity towards a vasogal faint, ANY time you have a procedure done you need to inform the doctor/nurse. They will most like draw blood or do the procedure with you in a reclining position and have you sit there for a few minutes before they allow you to get up.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I am so glad to see my husband, myself, and all the dis friends are thinking along the same line. I feel as everyone else, a freak accident. It just goes to show you how people's nature are. Some are so selfish, out for what they can get, while others are about how to help out someone else. If all the world were of the latter, we would be in a better society. But it takes all kinds. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. Hopefully I will be back to myself in no time with no lasting damage from this incident and no future episodes. I will try to remember to post in a week or so and update on the healing and the doctors.

You're a wise person! I hope it was just some freak thing and you're never bothered by it again.

(For what it's worth, some times I can handle medical procedures/bloodwork with no problem, and other times I get woozy. There's no rhyme or reason to when or why it bothers me some times and not others.)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

First off sorry that you passed out.

And yes it is very common for people to pass out with medical procedures. My 14yodd has vasovagal synocope and she has passed out many times. However we take precautions now. We make sure she has eaten, is hydrated, lies down for procedures, takes breaks, gets a drink of water, uses her IPOD for distraction and is direct with doctors when she needs a break. That was the biggest hurdle since nurses and doctors who do not know her will tend to "poo-poo" a kid telling them she needs a moment to collect herself and a few sips of water.

She gets it from her daddy who has passed out after having blood drawn. He woke up in the men's bathroom, pants down.Now he knows to give himself a few extra minutes in the office before rushing out the door.

In the future take some extra precautions when you have a medical procedure so you do not end up on the floor again.

 

[wdwmom2]

First off sorry that you passed out.

And yes it is very common for people to pass out with medical procedures. My 14yodd has vasovagal synocope and she has passed out many times. However we take precautions now. We make sure she has eaten, is hydrated, lies down for procedures, takes breaks, gets a drink of water, uses her IPOD for distraction and is direct with doctors when she needs a break. That was the biggest hurdle since nurses and doctors who do not know her will tend to "poo-poo" a kid telling them she needs a moment to collect herself and a few sips of water.

She gets it from her daddy who has passed out after having blood drawn. He woke up in the men's bathroom, pants down.Now he knows to give himself a few extra minutes in the office before rushing out the door.

In the future take some extra precautions when you have a medical procedure so you do not end up on the floor again.

You beat me to it!!!!

OP, if you are a healthy person, vasovagal syncope would be my guess. I have physically caught and lowered many patients to the ground over something as simple as an immunization. They have all been teenage girls. Also had a mother faint on me while she was holding her 1 month old while I was collecting blood from a heel stick. Luckily, the mom was in front of a chair, and she fell into it. I caught the baby as mom was going down. The last one was a young girl on her externship. First day in my office, she was just getting over an illness, didn't eat breakfast that morning, and down she went in the hallway. Yes, I caught her. Somehow I manage to be in the right place at the right time.

All of the above where healthy individuals. Just the stress of the moment put them over the edge. It happens.

So no, I wouldn't sue, unless the office was somehow negligent. And nothing you posted alluded that they were.

 

[kellydizfan]

Why is it their fault you passed out? No wonder the world is like it is.

 

[crashbb]

I am a regular but changed name for this post and am needing advice please. I have everyone pulling me in different directions. This is kind of long so please bear with me. I have been seeing a dermatologist and was having some black spots, not moles just spots that look like ticks, removed. One of them came back abnormal and I had to have surgery to remove everything around it. It is on my thigh and will leave an ugly scar, but so much better than the alternative. Anyway, I had stitches and had to go back and have them removed after 2 weeks. I was in the office and this nurse was removing them. I was fine, talking with her etc the whole time. As she finished she said she was going out to get the head nurse to make sure it was healing ok. She went to the door and that was the last thing I remember. Somehow I passed out cold and woke up on the floor with everyone, doctors nurses etc, standing over me all in a panic. They were saying you are hurt bad, you have to have stitches, and go to the hospital. Well sure enough I split my eyelid in half, huge gash, my whole right side of my face is black and blue, I can not see anything out of that eye it is swollen shut. I had a concussion and huge knot on my head. I also bruised my arm and cut up my knee really bad. They stitched me up at the clinic and called an ambulance for me. I had tests and they all came back ok. I have never had a black out spell before this or anything. I still have to see my regular care doctor to test more, because I do not think you pass out for no reason. I have to go back to the clinic and have my stitches out this week. It is too early to tell what kind of scar or damage if any to my eye or head I will have. I have some friends and family members telling me to contact an attorney that the office was negligent since I was in their care when falling and blacking out. My husband and a few other friends think like me, only contact an attorney if this leaves perm. damage or if I am left with any medical bills, they should pay since it happened on their watch so to speak. I have already had to shell out a co-pay for the ambulance and hospital. I have more spots I have to have cut out and of course these stitches out from this clinic. I really love my doctor, but would you even go back there after this? Would you contact an attorney on this? If it were you, how would you proceed? I am terrified I will black out again or this will leave lasting damage. Please give me your advice/suggestions/or of you are in the legal field, is this even a case? Thanks in advance for your advice. I really appreciate it, I am in such a state right now. Sorry if I was in anyway rambling, I am still on pain medication right now.

I am so glad to see my husband, myself, and all the dis friends are thinking along the same line. I feel as everyone else, a freak accident. It just goes to show you how people's nature are. Some are so selfish, out for what they can get, while others are about how to help out someone else. If all the world were of the latter, we would be in a better society. But it takes all kinds. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. Hopefully I will be back to myself in no time with no lasting damage from this incident and no future episodes. I will try to remember to post in a week or so and update on the healing and the doctors.

So, you aren't planning on suing for the medical costs? Or are you.

Like the others, I'm sorry this happened to you (both the spots needing removal and the fainting). However, I don't see that the office holds any responsibility.

 

[Magic Mom]

Even if you had permanent damage (and I'm happy you don't) why would the Dr's office be responsible? They had no way of knowing you would randomly pass out and fall off the table. Should they have strapped you down just in case?

 

[mskayjay]

Why is it their fault you passed out? No wonder the world is like it is.

The OP came in asking for an opinion. If you read her response (it is 7 or 8 posts before yours) to the many responses telling her that this was not the doctor's fault, she and her husband did NOT want to sue but were being encouraged by family and friends to do so. She came her to get more input as they were uncomfortable going with that route. Thats what the boards are for.

I can read your response and the tone in it and say the same thing....."no wonder the world is like it is". Little understanding goes a long way.

 

[mskayjay]

I am so glad to see my husband, myself, and all the dis friends are thinking along the same line. I feel as everyone else, a freak accident. It just goes to show you how people's nature are. Some are so selfish, out for what they can get, while others are about how to help out someone else. If all the world were of the latter, we would be in a better society. But it takes all kinds. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. Hopefully I will be back to myself in no time with no lasting damage from this incident and no future episodes. I will try to remember to post in a week or so and update on the healing and the doctors.

Excellent decision. Sometimes those closest to us don't really think about the larger picture in their focus on us getting the best care/results/etc. The nurses who have described patients who faint really gives a much clearer picture on just how common this type of response can be but yet when measured with the thousands of shots, stitch removals, etc that are done it is a small percentage of the whole.

I just feel awful for you though....you must have pitched forward off the table to incur that type of injury. I hope that you have no lasting effects and that your future procedures go well. Now you know too, you have to tell them when you go for any type of shot or other procedure with a needle that you should do it laying back or in a reclining chair and sit for a few before getting up.

 

[arminnie]

I'm glad you are okay. I fainted once in ICU visiting a relative. That was about 30 years ago and never happened again.

For those who think you should sue "Would you be happy if everytime the doctor/nurse left the room they strapped you to the table?"

 

[torinsmom]

I would think the office would offer to pay any medical bills that you were left with, just like if someone fell at your house and was injured, the homeowner's insurance would pay for it. I've never had this kind of situation though, so I don't know if that would be the norm.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I would think the office would offer to pay any medical bills that you were left with, just like if someone fell at your house and was injured, the homeowner's insurance would pay for it. I've never had this kind of situation though, so I don't know if that would be the norm.

Not exactly. She didn't trip and fall. It wasn't a faulty lab table. She BLACKED OUT, for reasons unknown.

Same as with HOMEOWNERS insurance, if a person had a stroke, heart attack, seizure, WHATEVER, in my house, my insurance company would want to be 100% sure the cause before they paid out. Did my house cause the blackout? If not, and YOUR underlying medical condition did, it's NOT my fault.

The same thing goes with the doctors office.

 

[torinsmom]

Not exactly. She didn't trip and fall. It wasn't a faulty lab table. She BLACKED OUT, for reasons unknown.

Same as with HOMEOWNERS insurance, if a person had a stroke, heart attack, seizure, WHATEVER, in my house, my insurance company would want to be 100% sure the cause before they paid out. Did my house cause the blackout? If not, and YOUR underlying medical condition did, it's NOT my fault.

The same thing goes with the doctors office.

But she doesn't KNOW why she fainted, right? It could have been because of the procedure.

 

[AKL_Megs]

But she doesn't KNOW why she fainted, right? It could have been because of the procedure.

Yes, but in your post you are assuming that that had to be the ONLY thing that could have caused it. Until they know for sure, it's nobodys fault.

 

[bookgirl]

I am a regular but changed name for this post and am needing advice please. I have everyone pulling me in different directions. This is kind of long so please bear with me. I have been seeing a dermatologist and was having some black spots, not moles just spots that look like ticks, removed. One of them came back abnormal and I had to have surgery to remove everything around it. It is on my thigh and will leave an ugly scar, but so much better than the alternative. Anyway, I had stitches and had to go back and have them removed after 2 weeks. I was in the office and this nurse was removing them. I was fine, talking with her etc the whole time. As she finished she said she was going out to get the head nurse to make sure it was healing ok. She went to the door and that was the last thing I remember. Somehow I passed out cold and woke up on the floor with everyone, doctors nurses etc, standing over me all in a panic. They were saying you are hurt bad, you have to have stitches, and go to the hospital. Well sure enough I split my eyelid in half, huge gash, my whole right side of my face is black and blue, I can not see anything out of that eye it is swollen shut. I had a concussion and huge knot on my head. I also bruised my arm and cut up my knee really bad. They stitched me up at the clinic and called an ambulance for me. I had tests and they all came back ok. I have never had a black out spell before this or anything. I still have to see my regular care doctor to test more, because I do not think you pass out for no reason. I have to go back to the clinic and have my stitches out this week. It is too early to tell what kind of scar or damage if any to my eye or head I will have. I have some friends and family members telling me to contact an attorney that the office was negligent since I was in their care when falling and blacking out. My husband and a few other friends think like me, only contact an attorney if this leaves perm. damage or if I am left with any medical bills, they should pay since it happened on their watch so to speak. I have already had to shell out a co-pay for the ambulance and hospital. I have more spots I have to have cut out and of course these stitches out from this clinic. I really love my doctor, but would you even go back there after this? Would you contact an attorney on this? If it were you, how would you proceed? I am terrified I will black out again or this will leave lasting damage. Please give me your advice/suggestions/or of you are in the legal field, is this even a case? Thanks in advance for your advice. I really appreciate it, I am in such a state right now. Sorry if I was in anyway rambling, I am still on pain medication right now.

I think you were lucky that when you passed out you were in a doctor's office so that you could receive immediate care. You were getting your stitches out. You weren't complaining of being sick, you didn't get left in a dangerous postion, I assume when they left you were sitting or lying down. It was only by happenstance that you were there when you passed out. Sueing because "you were on their watch" is not appropriate. You were not on their watch, you are an able adult who passed out. If you passed out in the grocery store would you be sueing them?

 

[cm8]

I am a regular but changed name for this post and am needing advice please. I have everyone pulling me in different directions. This is kind of long so please bear with me. I have been seeing a dermatologist and was having some black spots, not moles just spots that look like ticks, removed. One of them came back abnormal and I had to have surgery to remove everything around it. It is on my thigh and will leave an ugly scar, but so much better than the alternative. Anyway, I had stitches and had to go back and have them removed after 2 weeks. I was in the office and this nurse was removing them. I was fine, talking with her etc the whole time. As she finished she said she was going out to get the head nurse to make sure it was healing ok. She went to the door and that was the last thing I remember. Somehow I passed out cold and woke up on the floor with everyone, doctors nurses etc, standing over me all in a panic. They were saying you are hurt bad, you have to have stitches, and go to the hospital. Well sure enough I split my eyelid in half, huge gash, my whole right side of my face is black and blue, I can not see anything out of that eye it is swollen shut. I had a concussion and huge knot on my head. I also bruised my arm and cut up my knee really bad. They stitched me up at the clinic and called an ambulance for me. I had tests and they all came back ok. I have never had a black out spell before this or anything. I still have to see my regular care doctor to test more, because I do not think you pass out for no reason. I have to go back to the clinic and have my stitches out this week. It is too early to tell what kind of scar or damage if any to my eye or head I will have. I have some friends and family members telling me to contact an attorney that the office was negligent since I was in their care when falling and blacking out. My husband and a few other friends think like me, only contact an attorney if this leaves perm. damage or if I am left with any medical bills, they should pay since it happened on their watch so to speak. I have already had to shell out a co-pay for the ambulance and hospital. I have more spots I have to have cut out and of course these stitches out from this clinic. I really love my doctor, but would you even go back there after this? Would you contact an attorney on this? If it were you, how would you proceed? I am terrified I will black out again or this will leave lasting damage. Please give me your advice/suggestions/or of you are in the legal field, is this even a case? Thanks in advance for your advice. I really appreciate it, I am in such a state right now. Sorry if I was in anyway rambling, I am still on pain medication right now.

OP, you had a vasovagal response to having your sutures removed. This response is fairly common with some people when they have any type of "needle" procedure done to them. If you go to have blood drawn from a lab, they will often try to watch for this but usually they don't.

I was going to suggest neurocardiogenic syncope as well.. I do think that you need to get checked out for any underlying health issues that may have contributed to this episode of fainting. I think you should get an EEG and ECG to rule out something serious. Were you standing or high up on the examination table? . I hope that you are doing much better. Be sure to see an ophthalmologist about your eye too

 

[Disney Doll]

Unless you specifically said to the doctor or nurse "I always pass out when I have stitches removed" and they left you unattended anyway, then I don't think you have cause to sue. Frankly, suture removal is a completely benign thing and no one would expect it to cause anyone to pass out. I have removed hundereds of sutures over the years, and no one has ever passed out from it.

I'd be going to my primary for a work up to determine why you passed ouot...cardiac, neurological, blood sugar check..the whole works.

 

[RNMOM]

I wouldn't hesitate to return to this office if you really like the doctor and staff. I really isn't their fault in my opinion because you had no prior history of fainting and didn't show or express any symptoms that would warn the nurse not to leave you alone on the table. I would suggest you sit in a chair from now on if you are going to be alone in the room. It is much closer to the floor and safer all around.

So long as you get the appropriate care and wish to return, go ahead. If you can have a friend or relative go with you when you have a proceedure or stiches removed it would be good to have someone to keep an eye on you when the staff are not in the room.

I fell going into my doctors building. I tripped on a trash can right in front of the elevator. I hit my head on the corner and had to go by ambulance to the ER for stiches. I have returned many times to that building and I steer clear of that dang garbage can.