Tags
blood poisoning, Coroner, Crofton Downs, Dislocation of hip, Family (biology), Hip Replacement, National, NZ Herald News, Rose Regan, Sepsis, The New Zealand Herald, Wellington Hospital New Zealand
Elderly woman’s concerns ‘not listened to properly’ before death – coroner – National – NZ Herald News.
By Patrice Dougan
5:51 PM Wednesday Jan 29, 2014
The concerns of an elderly woman who died of blood poisoning in Wellington Hospital were not properly listened to by medical staff, a coroner has ruled.
Rose Regan, 76, of Crofton Downs, died of septicaemia, following a hip replacement operation, in November 2011.
Her family are considering laying a complaint with the Health and Disability Commissioner after raising concerns about her medical care at her inquest, which the coroner agreed were “not adequately answered”.
These included an infection which the family said was not treated, and a dislocated hip which went undetected by hospital staff for at least two weeks. Her family also questioned staff about Mrs Regan’s foot being rotated outwards by 90 degrees, and the pensioner herself asked nurses why her new hip “clicked” when she tried to move.
“This was met with shrugged shoulders and no suggestions to follow up,” the family said.
Full article – Click here
Not being listened to’ Is par for the course in some NZ hospitals (private) and public in NZ today. Statistically ‘no one wants to know, when Surgical teams ‘have failed in their ‘duty of Care’ have compromised safety’ leaving the bewildered patient wondering what ‘The Hell’ is going on, what/why-am I NOT being told.whats happening/happened .to me. Ignoring patients real concerns, is tandamount to Fraud
at a professional level’ We all have wonderful highlights of excellent surgical performances
and again the Misadventure of human error. is placed inthe 1% category..
This applies specifically to The Orthopaedic Fraternity’ when they realize that mistakes have been made, and go immediately on the defence, by way ignoring/no comment changing the subject, OR Total Denial…
Statistics back this up-Patients of any age, need to be more informed, questions asked,/ answered HONESTLY which is Rare, as they have the total protection
of our Acc Corporation, Health and Disability, and Justice, to cause mayhen, destroy life’s with NO ACCOUNTABILITY. If those that caused their ‘failure to recognize a body in shock/distress had to ‘Pay families’ out of their ‘OWN POCKETS
Its only then, that non empowered patients are ever going to receive justification, that meets their real concerns and needs.. As always these and many other such cases and stories are going to surface.when staff take too long to address patient concerns, when it becomes too late to reverse the situation..
This sad story, will come under the
‘Rare and Severe’ banner, and is not indicative of The Majority of highly regarded surgical teams.
. Their is an answer, that one day may see ‘Changes in Legislation.’with Solution Based Courts,that would be seen to have have a fair and positive outcome in rehabilitation/compensation. to right the wrong, and lessen such
devastating stories,to become more ‘highlighted’,so frequently. Sympathies with the family of deceased love one, which once again comes back to the purpose of Earls Blog, who has researched so admirably
where some would not dare to tread. Thank goodness for the Herald, and anyone reporting these preventable tragedies, as for the most part ARE preventable.
They certainly have each other’s backs. The patients are mere annoyances.
omg, how awful.
I can totally relate to the “concerns not listened to properly” I implore each and every individual thinking about, scheduling, or having any invasive surgery to ask both the primary doctors and surgeons as many questions that you think of. Then read online and ask more! I was ignorant and trusted that my primary knew what to do pre and post op for a THR. I trusted the surgeon to direct me properly on recovery! I also trusted that my surgeon was putting a quality device in me and I wound up with a Biomet Magnum M2A which was finally removed this past year. However in the 6 years following surgery, nobody listened when I said the hip felt tight, almost grinding. Nobody listened when I couldn’t walk to the mail box after two years. Nobody listened when I started being short of breath. ( More therapy) Nobody listened when I told them I thought I had a partial dislocation on three occasions. (X-ray and no problem)Nobody listened when I woke in the middle of the night with panic attacks for breathing. Nobody listened when I had such severe and painful spasms in my back, I could not sleep. Nobody listened when I had a painful welt in my right leg. (Ultrasound of right leg negative) Bottom line is “I had been accumulating pulmonary embolisms over the course of 6 years. Only by luck did the new (4th)surgeon require a full cardio work up and pulmonary workup! Result was heart is enlarged and one lung is 2/3 irreversibly damaged and the other has damage. The hospital did not give me 24 hours to live, as most with this do not make it! I managed to survive, stabilized, which allowed the revision surgery but my day to day is tough after a year and a half. Had a simple CT Scan been done when I experienced the severe back pain and spasms, my lungs and heart would not be in the condition they are in. It took me 6 doctors and 3 years to find a doctor that listened. Bottom line is “ask the questions, no matter how much you think you know or how simple they seem”. If the answers don’t fit, find a new doctor or facility. Take charge because it has become a big money game and you can easily get lost in the shuffle!
I am attempting to put my story together for Earl to publish! I went from being a healthy, (with exception of my right hip) 6-4, 214 pound, 57 year old, to a very tired and worn out 6-4, 179 pound 64 year old. Can safely say retirement is nowhere near what I planned.
TAKE CHARGE!
It’s good to know we are not alone. Doesn’t make it better but it proves we aren’t imagining things like some disingenuous surgeons like to suggest.
O do I get it . . . 4 hip replacements since 2007, fibromyalgia, cervical dystonia, bipolarity, spinal stenosis. Whee! I’m 61 and this has been a decade or more of trauma. You’re a tough dame. Yes, take charge!