OB Case History/Trauma

MyLady23 · Apr 25, 2011

I am still speechless.

LuckyinKY · Apr 25, 2011

This is so disturbing. I think this all to common though. I nearly lost my first son because my OB kept ignoring my concerns.

punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2011

Shocking. I did loose my first born due to being ignored. I've been thinking of requesting medical records for some time now, this just inspired me to do so..

morte, LPN, LVN · Apr 25, 2011

...and persons continue to wonder why educated women are birthing at home????

rn/writer, RN · Apr 25, 2011

As a postpartum nurse, I find this account really disturbing. Seems as though just one caring and competent person could have turned this whole thing around or at least spared the family some of the anguish.

It reminds me to listen to my patients and connect with them, even if I disagree with something they're saying. That connection can generate a bit of trust from the patient and/or trigger a suspicion in the nurse that there may be an underlying condition or need that requires a second look.

This story also points out a major flaw in our current tort system--that far too often, any show of compassion, any willingness to address complaints, anything less than an offensive defense, is viewed as a capitulation that will inevitably lead to a large malpractice award.

The current thinking is that you reduce your vulnerability by closing ranks and presenting a brick wall when the exact opposite is true.

I remember reading a book called, Josie's Story, by Sorrel King, that chronicled the loss of her young daughter through medical errors. After speaking with many parents, she heard a common refrain. "I just wanted someone to say they were sorry. I wanted to see some evidence that they cared about what they did (or didn't do)." Instead of protecting health care practitioners, the utter absence of compassion became a driving force in some of the future lawsuits, the idea being that if the docs chose to remain impervious to their patients' (and the patients' families') anguish, perhaps they would be awakened by having to feel a bit of their own.

Research is now showing that transparency, caring, and even admission of error is followed by better outcomes than the current model of circling the wagons and severing communication and connection. Patients and families who feel heard, understood, and cared about are far less likely to want the doctor's head on a platter.

There will always be some who are after a quick buck, but they tip their hand fairly early in the process. For the others, the ones who were genuinely harmed and who feel betrayed, much of what they are after is respect and restoration and enough financial help to make things right again.

I'm glad this doctor/patient was able to put into words what many others have wanted to share.