What do you make of this?

[meeshi]

I posted the other day that my brother had an accident at work and crushed his arm. Well, the hospital he was at did all they could and were going to transfer him to another hospital (a sister hospital). They said they couldn't get a transport ambulance soon enough and wanted my SIL to drive him to the other hospital. He was bleeding a lot, but they said because he didn't have a severed artery, they wouldn't life flight him. Well the second hospital is over an hour away and when they got there (SIL drove him), they said he DID have a severed artery and they wish they would have seen him sooner!

There is a possibilty he will not have use of his right hand and may lose his arm. That's what the doctors are saying, although we are praying and believing God for a miracle!

Now this morning, he gets a visit from the president of the hospital. Just to see how he's doing and check up on him and told him he would be back to see him again.

Now I've been in the hospital several times with dd and have NEVER had the president of a hospital stop by to see how she's doing.

So I'm just wondering what you all think of this.

 

[SeaShelley]

Sounds to me like they are trying to ward off a law suit.

Sending more prayers and PD for your brother and family.

Please keep us posted.

 

[JerseyJanice]

It sounds like they made a big mistake.

Unfortunately, though, I've heard medical malpractice are the hardest lawsuits to win.

 

[LemonDietCoke]

Have your sister-in-law and brother write down everything they recall people saying and order copies of his charts.

It does seem like they know they made a mistake. From what I've heard, most malpractice suits are settled out of court...

Your brother is in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Disney Doll]

It sounds like the error was made by the first hospital, misdiagnosing the artery problem.

 

[Boots]

Hmmm, sounds like someone is a little concerned. Keep us posted.

 

[RNMOM]

I agree it sounds like some major mistakes in judgement were made here. I would recommend your sister have her attorney request the transcripts from the first hospital just in case.

I work in health care and am wondering just what would need to happen to make the situation work out well for everyone. By that I mean, your family member getting good results with the healing of his injury and treatment all around to be positive from this point on. I don't think a visit from the president of the hospital would do it for me.

If the results are good and no permanent damage came of the error, I think I (this it just me, now) would be satisfied with an apology and admission that a mistake was made. I would want to know that they will not make this mistake in the future for anyone else.

If the results are not good, I would certainly get a lawyer and I would recommend your family keep very detailed records and get names. This is why I would get the ED records from the other place now.

 

[charlie,nj]

Unbelievable!

Prayers to your brother.

 

[meeshi]

When the president of the hospital was there this morning my SIL asked him for a copy of the doctor's report from the first hospital and he said he would get her one. Is there anything else she should have? Or would that have all the information on it?

 

[helenabear]

I really have no advice for you. I am so sorry you all are going through this. My thoughts and prayers are with your brother... I pray he gets use of his hand again!

 

[Kermit]

I'll be praying that your brother does recover fully.

I agree that it sounds like they messed up. I'd probably wait and see what happens. If he does end up losing his arm or definitely not getting back full use of his hand, then I'd consider getting a lawyer and seeing where you could go from there. An opinion from another doctor about whether being life flighted would have changed the outcome would give you some direction on where to go. If it does end up that his life is changed and that the hospital is at fault, then he has every right to sue. Having full use of your hand is a big deal.

 

[Serena]

I hope your brother fully recovers the use of his hand. And I'll add as well, that it sounds like someone goofed.

 

[honeywolf7]

I hope everything works out okay for your brother. When I was 5 and got hit by a car, the resident who saw me first in the ER told my parents there was nothing wrong with me (after I got hit, I was thrown 20 feet through the air and landed on my head). My dad insisted that they get an orthopedic surgeon, an internal medicine doctor, and a neurologist and it's a good thing that he did because I had broken ribs, a fractured skull, and a badly broken hip that required several later surgeries. The staff at the hospital went out of their way to be nice to our family afterwards in order to avoid a malpractice suit and it sounds like this is what they're doing with your brother as well (having said that, the resident who so badly misdiagnosed me never became a doctor...he quit after this happened.)