Grateful Reader

Here is a letter I got from a grateful reader...

Jackie,

I've been following your writings and blogs for some time now. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all you've said and done to expose the atrocities taking place in the medical field - physically, emotionally, legally, monetarily. We've learned from past experiences and mistakes and do our best to ensure the treatment we want (and deserve), but STILL those in the medical field lie, cheat, obfuscate, mislead, mis-represent, ridicule, cajole, and bully....................to get their way. And after the fact is a bit too late to undo/change things!

After much discussion in regards to our latest foray into the medical world, we foolishly believed and trusted them once again with disastrous results. Unlike yours, ours was not physical damage, and most would say, "What's the big deal?", but to us it was (and is) important.

I loved, trained for and worked in the medical field -- now I despise everyone in the field and trust not one person. I challenge everyone from the receptionist to the doctor to the billing clerk as nicely as I can and get hostility and ridicule in return. My husband says we ought to move to the far reaches of Alaska to get away from it all!

I've learned that most people don't want to hear your/my warning, foolishly believing as I once did that the doctor/nurse has my best interest at heart and would do nothing but what was in my best interest. NOT! As you and I know this could not be further from the truth.

Thank you for all you are doing. I just hope you are making an impact. Please know you have at least made me feel that I am not a loony and not alone in our experience and thinking and for that you have my heartfelt gratitude.

From the "Comments" Medical Worker Says We Are Ignorant.

This one is sort of nuetral, but I wanted to put it up as somebody took the time to READ this blog and deserves mention.



passlline has left a new comment on your post "Wages and Health Care":

"some good points were raised. But others make this person sound very ignorant."



I wish that you had been more informative passline. I would like to know especially which points make me seem "very ignorant?" I have everything researched, evidenced etc. There is no way you can argue with my personal experience with the torture chamber where I went. Which were the good points? Anyway, thanks for stopping by. I would love to know what you think of the other comments I have put up from alleged anesthesia providers. (Or at least people pretending, I hope, that they are!)

Medical Worker Says GFY

This is reprinted with permission from http://www.versedbusters.blogspot.com/ Tim won't allow this kind of comment to remain on his blog because he thinks it doesn't add to civil discourse. However, this comment illuminates the workings of the health care workers' little minds. I proudly present this comment here!
Drew has left a new comment on the post "Introduction":

Yeah I agree with everyone here! Doctors are terrible people and the world doesn't need them!

Thanks for making the sweeping generalizations you jackasses.

Versed does not give everyone a bad experience, in fact, it's quite the contrary for most people. Being informed of the medication you are getting is always good: but complaining about memory loss for a brief period is ridiculous. "Like being molested as a child"... don't even TRY to compare having Versed used on you to being molested as a child. That is ridiculous, and you are a moron. Period. The fact of the matter is if you are having a procedure done that involves general anesthesia (any major surgery) you aren't going to remember the procedure anyway so the complaint by Kirt on the main page is not only whiney, but utterly pointless because the experience would have been the same had he just been completely himself for the part of the General Anesthetic where you get a tube rammed down your throat.

There is no informative information on this site, just stupid whining and fear-mongering.

"Forced on patients"

Give me a fucking break. Kill yourselves. Out of the gene pool.
Where to start with this one... Let's start with the statement at the end of "Drew's" rant. Here is THE BEST EXAMPLE I HAVE EVER SEEN ABOUT HOW OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS VIEW US!!! Here is his statement again; "Give me a fucking break. Kill yourselves. Out of the gene pool." You the patient demand that your rights as enumerated in the laws of this land as it pertains to medical treatment, (full disclosure and the right to refuse any or all of the proposed "theraputic" procedures) you object to a particular drug, and this wonderboy wants you dead. This is the person in charge of making sure that you are SAFE and he wants you DEAD if you give him any lip. Also please note his highly educated languge... "fucking" break! How original. Were you a truck driver before or what? (Sorry for insulting truck drivers.)
Let's not leave out that we are "jackasses" and "morons." I guess that since we are just patients, that we are necessarily jackasses and morons for taking exception to Versed and the cavalier disregard for our wishes AND THE LAW! Funny that I have never seen another drug which causes the people who push it to go berserk. This is an example of that. You medical types must be so proud. This makes you look GOOD doesn't it?
As for "sweeping generalizations." Drew is a master of the sweeping generalization! "Versed does not give everyone a bad experience, in fact, quite the contrary for most people." I don't think so! This statement is a "sweeping generalization." We already know that Versed is fine for many people, however "most people" is a stretch. "Most people" do not want amnesia. Just ask them! As for the "Doctors are terrible people and the world doesn't need them." None of us have said that. That little piece of hyperbole is all in YOUR mind, honey. Are you paranoid or what? (That statement is a "sweeping generalization" on your part as well.)
Moving on, we are all idiots and unworthy of "informed consent." Never mind that the law clearly states that we are to be INFORMED before proceeding! It's the law! What part of this does this man not get? Here's his statement again; "Being informed of the medication you are getting is always good: but complaining about memory loss for a brief period is ridiculous." No cupcake, "being informed of the medication you are getting is" NOT "always good." It is REQUIRED BY LAW! This information is not optional! Can you grasp that concept?
As for the second part of the statement, "complaining about memory loss for a brief period is ridiculous," if you had followed the law, we would not be surprised by memory loss. This is not ridiculous. Nobody except drunks are sanguine about memory loss, the potential for humiliating ourselves, the potential for abuse etc. is huge. Drew, do you really think that ANY SANE PERSON should trust you with their amnestic, obedient selves after reading your statement? How "ridiculous" is that? Furthermore I am TOTALLY p'o'd about being forced into obedience and having every single thing which I had forbidden done to me for NO REASON other than the convenience of the staff! There is a LAW about doing anything like this for staff convenience. That law is on this web site! Sooo do you know the law as it pertains to you Mr. Go Kill Yourselves?
Also, once again, one of our allegedly highly skilled hospital personnel can't grasp the difference between "amnestic" and "unconscious." These 2 terms are not interchangeable. There are verifiable changes in brain function when a patient is unconscious vs. having amnesia. With Versed, the brain function remains almost the same as when the person has not been doped. That is why these new machines can't be used to determine the depth of AMNESIA! It doesn't work.
I remember the tube being rammed down my throat you idiot! It was not pleasant. You have no "fucking" way of knowing whether somebody has amnesia or not you "moron." (Using the same truck driving language which Drew demonstrates.) I said NO to general anesthetic you braying "jackass." They should not have "RAMMED" a tube down my throat in the first place. I love your terminology "you get a tube rammed down your throat." How kind and careful. I imagine most patients would be concerned about somebody like this man Drew RAMMING tubes down their throat! Wow, this inspires trust and confidence in the medical "professionals."
Last but not least, Drew, sweety, you prove my point about uncaring, aggressive, arrogant, psychotic people in the health care field. So our alleged "sweeping generalizations" are not that far off the mark are they? You demonstrate exactly WHY we feel the way we do about you people. I have plenty of information and proof on this site that this drug Versed WAS "forced" on me as was the general anesthetic. LOTS of other patients are complaining about the same thing. I have the LAW pertaining to this sort of behavior here too. We are not just "whining and fear mongering." Anybody who is NOT afraid after reading your illuminating post has a problem!

From the "Comments" Medical Worker Thinks We Need "Gunsmoke"

"I'm glad you've got the problems with health care figured out. So go back to the old "Gunsmoke" days and have ole Doc have you bite on a leather strap while he pours some Redeye on you wound to sterilize it. He'll then have you lay on your kitchen table and dig out the bullet you shot yourself in the foot with. Saves a lot of health care money. And you'd probably die from infection. Good luck suing for getting what you asked for. "
Oooh temper temper! I don't have ALL "the problems with health care figured out," but this is a prime example of what a big part of the problem is! If the patient objects to being treated as sub human by sub standard employees, the answer is "...go back to the old 'Gunsmoke' days." I am not asking for Redeye instead of Keflex you moron! I am not asking for a leather strap to bite, I want pain killers and Morphine works just fine for me. What is the matter with you? That's the choice? "Let me do whatever I want to you with Versed or I will personally attack you?" You don't see anything wrong with deliberately and maliciously flouting patient wishes and this is your alternative? How very helpful. You just shot your own self in the foot didn't you!
On another of your "points" did it ever occur to you that it would save a lot of "health care money" if you quit shooting up unsuspecting patients with your control drug Versed? Thousands of dollars PER PROCEDURE!!! Versed is NOT necessary for any procedure. YOU may feel its necessary for your own selfish reasons, but most patients don't find it necessary.
I would have died from my HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTION Hospital-Acquired Infections, MRSA, Killed 48,000 Americans In One Year if they didn't have sulpha drugs. You guys can't be bothered to wash your hands after all these years of KNOWING how infection is spread? Back in the "Gunsmoke" days they didn't know how infection is spread. What's your excuse? Not to mention that if this surgery had been performed the way *I* wanted it, I wouldn't have had your dirty hands on me and wouldn't have been infected. I have documentation elsewhere on this blog about how to get the best results from my particular surgery and it ISN'T general anesthetic.
"Good luck suing for getting what you asked for." I didn't ask for any of this. In fact I was adamantly opposed to sedation drugs OR general anesthetic. Lazy, hostile health care workers with the compassion of a flea and a propensity for disobeying the law did this to me against my will and very verbal expressed wishes. Thank you for your comment. It is very enlightening.

From the "Comments" Medical Worker Sneers At Fibromyalgia Sufferers

"All you do is complain and moan about how horrible these people were to you, yet you don't give specifics about what exactly they supposedly did to you. I predict from the tone of your rant that you "suffer" from fibromyalgia too. Those in health care know what I'm talkin' bout!"

First of all I have given specifics including copies of my personal medical records on this site. All you have to do is click on them to see them full size. I have hospital charts with fraudulent data, lies, ommisions and incorrect dates (as in "go back and change them...") I have correspondance from the "Doctor" in here as well. Since he refused, in direct violation of the law, to give me my actual CHARTS on demand, I am sorry but from the esteemed surgeon all I have is what he gave me. They are here though. Maybe you don't know how to click the "older posts" link at the bottom of the page?



As for the second part of the statement, here is a link to a fibromyalgia study. Video Microscopy: ‘Live’ Blood Analysis for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients – exciting breakthrough or pure hype? Honey babe, I do NOT suffer from Fibromyalgia, but I do know one person who does. The idea that you are so dismissive of the very real suffering in a fellow human being is very illustrative of YOUR mental problems. You exibit a TOTAL lack of empathy or sympathy for others. This is known as "psychopathic" behavior in its severest form. If you need the definition of this mental disorder please leave another inane comment and I will look it up for you and print it along with your post!

Thanks for leaving us this breathtaking example of the compassion of health care workers. Snide comments which prove my point are always welcomed here!

Wages and Health Care

I think a lot about what happened to me at the Medical Center. Why did this happen? What kind of people would do this? Why did they think it would be OK on ANY LEVEL to completely disregard my wishes, inject me with poison (Versed) to gain obedience, give me general anesthetic which I had specifically forbidden, then laugh at my unhappiness afterwards? Why would they fail to protect me from something as simple as a hospital acquired infection? Why was my surgery so sloppily performed? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE AND WHY ARE THEY WORKING IN THE HEALTH CARE FIELD?
I think it all revolves around MONEY. Back in the day, doctors and others in the health care field became doctors and nurses because they wanted to help people. They made a good living and saved lives. Over the years this has changed. Now these people make salaries way out of proportion to their skills. No longer would somebody have an altruistic desire to help people as their main objective. Obscene salaries would be the main interest. This has led to a decline in good people going into the health care field. Now "the money" has become the main reason. This absurd amount of money has attracted a bad element into health care.
Look at what CRNA's make. They are not worth it. The anesthesiologists make much more than they used to as well. After all they make money for "supervising" now, instead of actually performing procedures. The surgeons are careless. Hospital acquired infections are rampant. according to studies, DOCTORS et. al. are the THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THIS COUNTRY! Why are we being slaughtered like this by the health care professionals?
Look at the lack of expertise my surgeon possessed as far as my surgery was concerned! It is a complete botch job. Look at his "concern" for me as shown in his notes elsewhere on this site! Is this the warm, caring person YOU want? Should he make enormous amounts of money for performing at this level? Does he care that he wrecked my arm? Not a bit. This person, along with everybody else where I went had one thing in mind, make this simple surgery the most expensive possible. We patients are just rubes to be duped, lied to, dismissed as inconsequential and viewed as a necessary EVIL to make money.
This whole thing is caused by too many substandard people choosing health care, not because they love people, but because of the wages. You can't trust these people at all with this new mentality. Health care MUST be the next bubble to burst. We just can't have people whose only concern is money to continue bleeding us dry while killing us.
Tort reform won't work. We need lawsuits to kind of keep these demons in line. If the people where I went were worried in the slightest bit about lawsuits, do you think that they would have treated me in such a cavalier manner? Not only do they make many times as much money as we patients do, they are immune from lawsuits as well. Tort reform does NOT bring down the cost of health care, it just allows money grubbing sub-standard caretakers to operate with impunity.
Money and power over us in that order is why we patients are being abused in the health care system. Get rid of Versed, put some teeth in the informed consent laws and force these cretins to at least follow the law. Get rid of redundant positions in health care. We don't need so many people doing minor variations of the same job. I counted 18 people involved in my care in the time I was in the out patient area. That's just outrageous. We don't need to pay all those people!!!
Anesthesiologist, 2 CRNA's, OR nurses, cast nurse, radiologist, scrub nurses, circulating nurses, the doctor AND his physicians assistant, what the hell do we need all these people for? They are all making huge salaries... They are all intent on maximising their profit while performing bad care. Can we just have ONE good person instead of three losers for each job? In all of these people there was not one single one who was interested in the patient, at least where I went. They were all there to make the most amount of money for the least amount of work and I, the hapless patient was there for THEIR needs not vice versa!
I admit that I would be a grape eater if I could. I don't work very often without being paid. However I *DO* work on occasion without pay. I CHOSE a profession that I love without worrying about making millions of dollars. I don't torture people. I pay attention to my clients wishes. I don't do what I do grudgingly and with animosity towards the people who pay my bills. Why can't health care people do the same? Too much money. Too much control. They are corrupted by it.

Yet Another Person Drugged Against Their Will

Anesthesiology - Sedation & General Anesthesia without consent

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Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 11/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: On October 19, 2009, I had TriVex surgery to correct Varicose veins in my leg. I consulted with the surgeon before even being a candidate for surgery and asked for a regional anesthetic. The surgeon said that would be too much anesthesia and suggested spinal anesthesia. I said I wanted to remain awake and not be sedated and wanted to have a similar experience as I did
during the C-Section birth of my child. The surgeon agreed. This is well documented in my medical record. The day of surgery I spoke with the first nurse who started my IV and told her that I was going to be awake because I was having spinal anesthesia. The nurse checked my medical record and said “You're right, you‘re having a spinal". I then consulted with the anesthesiologist, who said that he was going to put medicine in my IV to make me go to sleep. I told him no you’re not, I am having a spinal. The anesthesiologist said, ”Who says“? I told him my surgeon and I also said, “I want to be awake“. He confirmed that I was having spinal anesthesia in her medical record. The surgeon came in and marked my leg and I asked him if I could watch the procedure. He said no. The nurse anesthetist then came into the room and I told her that I wanted to be awake and made reference to my experience during child birth. I went to the operating room at 10:00 A.M. and at 10:02 A.M. the nurse anesthetist administered 1.5 mg of Midazolam and I weigh 112 pounds. The anesthesiologist told the nurse anesthetist give her ____ she is allergic to Morphine. The nurse anesthetist said I am. The last thing I remember, is the nurse anesthetist putting up a curtain near my waist and I said, “Well I guess I won‘t be able to watch“. I woke up 50 minutes later and discovered that I had been put to sleep against my consent. According to my medical record, the spinal was in at 10:09 A.M. and right after that it says Propofol was administered. TriVex is a new “minimally evasive procedure“. I also talked with a medical doctor about this incident and he said, “It is highly unlikely they gave you Propofol for varicose veins”, but it is in my medical records and they agree they gave me Propofol. On the pre-anesthesia report it says, "Patient wants SAB" spinal anesthesia and the block for Versed is not checked. All documents in my medical record list spinal and nothing else. The next day I complained to the surgery center saying that they sedated me and put me to sleep without my consent. The head nurse said they give the Midazolam because they don't want people to hear noises. The nurse anesthetist then called and I complained to her. The nurse anesthetist said she gave the Midazolam so I did not hear noises because it is too traumatic on people. I then asked why they did a spinal and used propofol and the nurse anesthetist said, “You were moving your leg“.
During a follow up visit with the surgeon he apologized and said he does not know why they sedated me. He said there were some "Oohs and Aw's" so they used propofol. The surgeon said he could have performed the surgery with only spinal anesthesia and no sedation as planned. I also got a letter from the administrator of the surgical center saying that he spoke with the anesthesia team and they agreed I wanted to be awake and apologized. I see from many articles that Midazolam is a pre-medication for Propofol. Based on the dose of Midazolam did they intend on administering Propofol all along and did the spinal to appease me and said that they tried the spinal anesthesia? I never agreed to anything other than spinal anesthesia without sedation. Why didn't they administer the spinal anesthesia and if not successful, tell me that they would have to put me to sleep? Since I am in Pennsylvania, I filled out private criminal complaints against the anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist and have an appointment with the prosecutor on November 30, 2009, to see if he will accept the criminal charges. These acts were intentional and deliberate and I feel they violated criminal law and have alleged in the charges that they provided drugs as a practitioner beyond the scope of their authority and without my consent. Could you please answer my questions so I am clear on everything.

ANSWER: Let me try to answer your question understanding that I have to speak about the hypotheticial since I was not present for your procedure. I will try to address all of your concerns.

First some definitions. Midazolam is a anxiolytic (like Valium but shorter acting) that, in addition to its anti-anxiety effects, also has amnestic effects. Propofol is an anesthetic, but in smaller doses, is a sedative, anxiolytic and also has some amnestic properties. MAC (monitored anesthesia care) anesthesia can mean anything from no drugs at all to as much drugs as possible so long as the patient is arousable. Spinal anesthesia is a regional anesthesia technique. I assume you had the spinal done (a needle in the back). The anesthesiologist, as part of his consent, should have mentioned that there is always a possibility that the spinal may fail and they'd have to convert to general.

The procedure you had was likely done under spinal (SAB) but they did give you the Versed for the anti-anxiety properties (1.5 mg is not a large dose). While spinal anesthetics are very reliable, they don't always work and we sometimes have to supplement them when they only partially work. The easiest way to do this (while still giving a MAC anesthetic) is to use propofol. The sedative effects of Propofol along with the partially working SAB is usually enough to finish the procedure. If that fails, then general anesthesia is the only option. If your anesthetic record does not note either an endotracheal tube or an LMA, then you did not have a general anesthetic. Midazolam is not a premed for Propofol but rather an anxiolytic usually given before entering the OR. I speak from experience in that I have had wisdom teeth taken out under Midazolam and although the dentist (a friend) said I moaned and groaned, I have no memory (thankfully) of the procedure. There is no indication that they intentionally put you to sleep and I can't imagine an anethesiologist putting in a spinal just for show. In fact, anesthesiologists prefer regional anesthesia because patients can tell us if they are having chest pain, etc so it is easier to treat them. The difference between this procedure and your c-section is that for your section they wanted you to remember holding your baby for the first time so they didn't give you the Midazolam. Most anesthesiologists are hesitant to agree to a completely awake patient primarily because many patients think they want to be awake but when they get to the OR and they hear the noises and see the blood, etc. they aren't so happy any more but now the anesthesiologists hands are tied and he can't give sedation (even though you are awake and now ask for it, you are under stress and the validity of your consent may have some medicolegal implications later on).

You are certainly free to pursue legal action but my feeling is the prosecutor will be reluctant to accept the case as he will have a small chance of a conviction (if what I have said is true).

Hope this helps you and sorry for your unplesant experience,

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dr. Levy don't you see a problem with informed consent? I specially told every medical employee (I will not call them professionals) that I came in contact with that I was only consenting to a spinal with no sedation and I wanted to be awake like I was during the birth of my child, which would include not consenting to amnesia from Midazolam. After I complained, all medical employees agreed that I wanted to be awake and apologized. I never agreed to any type of sedation, either Midazolam or Propofol or any other sedative. I was given the Midazolam and then told. Don't you see a problem with consent there? According to proper informed consent in Pennsylvania I was suppose to be told of the risks and benefits of the anesthesia. I was never advised of any risks or benefits and alternatives of any anesthesia, let alone the spinal. You don't see an ethical issue here? If you took you vehicle in for an oil change and a hour later the mechanic spoke with you and told you that your bill would be $1,200 because while it was on the lift they had to put a new transmission in and did not it without your consent. The mechanic is an expert in his field like doctors are experts in the medical field. I am sure you would be highly upset with your mechanic and that issue could be dealt with either in civil court or the mechanic could be arrested for fraud or deceptive business practices, which would be handled by the criminal justice system. This is the same issue, I did not consent to anything other than the spinal and consented to and agreed to be fully awake since I was consenting to a spinal only. They did not have a right to sedate (Midazolam) me against my will and without my consent or permission. Also I see that people who are allergic to eggs can have an allergic reaction to Propofol. They never checked this with me. It certainly seems that doctors and other medical employees do not have have ethics and feel that they can do whatever they want to their patients without being held accountable. Can you name any other profession where employees could treat the consumer like I was treated and not be held accountable or disciplined? All of this comes from someone who has worked as a medical professional for over 25 years. I appreciate your response.

Answer
As I stated in my previous response, I was not justifing what they did, I was only commenting on what likely happened. I do take offense when you say doctors and medical personnel do not have ethics, etc, based on this one event you had. Let me try to answer some of your comments and ask you a question. As for the consent, if they did not talk to you at all about the type of anesthesia, risks, complications and alternatives, then they were clearly wrong (not just in PA but throughout the world). With respect to eggs and Propofol, they should have certainly asked if you had any allergies (I'm sure someone asked you that question) and the problem with eggs has to do with the yolk and some recent studies have shown that the formulation of Propofol doesn't have the proteins common in the allergy (http://www.anaesthesia-az.com/search/?itemId=2136494) but they still should have asked and many anesthesiologists probably wouldn't use it. As for other professions where employees take advantage, I think every profession has people who do that. There are bad apples everywhere but it should not speak against all people in that profession. As for suing them, you are certainly within your rights to do that. I don't think you have grounds for a malpractice suit (you don't meet the 3 criteria). A criminal suit would be tough to get a conviction (the best charge might be battery but it would be hard to prove) so your only hope would be a civil suit which may get you money but I don't think that is what you want. You could certainly notify your state medical board and they can investigate (which is probably the right thing to do) but that is up to you.

As for my 2 questions, the first is "Why are you so insistent to be awake for the procedure?" and the second and more important question is "What would you want the anesthesiologist to do if he did only the spinal and it didn't work or it did work but you had second thoughts and were now nervous and wanted sedation?". As I mentioned earlier, the only "legal" option you give the surgeon and anesthesiologist is to abort the procedure (if possible) and come back another time.

I hope I have cleared up some of your concerns,

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston