I don't want to give details about my case, because I'm not sure if that would be wise given that it is a current lawsuit. Suffice to say that I was in the hospital, at the doctors office, and in touch with my doctors' office multiple times throughout a week leading up to the 6month loss of twins. Whenever I was in the hospital I was rehydrated and sent home, told I had food poisoning, etc... Well, it turns out I had a very easiliy diagnosed, commonly known cause of premature labor. Right under their noses. On more than one occasion.
I am not a vengeful person, and I understand that people make mistakes. I'm about to graduate from nursing school and I'm terrified of making a mistake and hurting someone. However, I do feel that my case was VERY negligently handled (I was 18 y.o. on government medical insurance, if that might be a reason). So, I sought out a lawyer just to ask him about it.
A lawsuit seemed like my way to participate in the justice system. To make sure that something like that didn't happen again. I could think of NO other way to make a difference. In fact, if I was shown that I was mistaken and that, I had in fact, received good medical care then I would happily accept it and move on. I would like closure and what is right and good to be done through this.
Looks like they're going to settle the case (3 1/2 years after I met with the lawyer). I have VERY mixed feelings. Even though these suits are part of the justice system, it seems like its a broken system. Am I only contributing the problems plagueing the system? If I let them settle without bringing it to court will the REAL CASE pass unnoticed by the medical community within that system?
What would you do? I loved my kids. I'm not interesting in making a buck off of their deaths, thankyouvery much. What is right? What makes a real difference?
I had to respond to this.... I am currently in a medical malpractice lawsuit, I am sueing a surgeon. I can't give too many details, btu suffice it to say that he did a procedure he was not licensed to do (which I didn't know), mistook heavy blue vicryl suture for dissolvable suture material and used it for inside stitches that were in for 42 days before he realized his mistake. By that time I almost lost my arm. I've had 5 surgeries since to remove necrotic flesh/muscle, lost my deltoid muscle, and have a mass of scar tissue from my elbow to my bra strap. I am still able to work and function as an RN, but my movement will never be the same, my humerus was thinned, and I will always have residual pain and nerve damage. My doctor was not in the least apologetic, was instead very cocky and told me that was what he had malpractice insurance for. So my case is in the court system right now, going into the settlement process. I have never "lawyered up" in my life, despite car accidents that were not my fault, etc but there are times that you have to call a lawyer.
LoriAlabamaRN
955 Posts
I had to respond to this.... I am currently in a medical malpractice lawsuit, I am sueing a surgeon. I can't give too many details, btu suffice it to say that he did a procedure he was not licensed to do (which I didn't know), mistook heavy blue vicryl suture for dissolvable suture material and used it for inside stitches that were in for 42 days before he realized his mistake. By that time I almost lost my arm. I've had 5 surgeries since to remove necrotic flesh/muscle, lost my deltoid muscle, and have a mass of scar tissue from my elbow to my bra strap. I am still able to work and function as an RN, but my movement will never be the same, my humerus was thinned, and I will always have residual pain and nerve damage. My doctor was not in the least apologetic, was instead very cocky and told me that was what he had malpractice insurance for. So my case is in the court system right now, going into the settlement process. I have never "lawyered up" in my life, despite car accidents that were not my fault, etc but there are times that you have to call a lawyer.