Hospital Doesn't Care

After having a bi-lateral mastectomy, I was told I needed chemo therapy. My first chemo appointment was cancelled by Dr. Coe. Next week rolls around, once again she is cancelling my CHEMO appointment. I tell them I'm not coming in for some silly manicure. Someone finally called back and said I could go ahead and keep my chemo appointment as scheduled.

The nurses would occasionally ask me if I found out what my estrogen receptor was yet. I asked Dr. Coe about it. She said there was no tissue left to do a test on, they threw it all away. When I told the nurse this, she shook her head in disbelief. I called the hospital lab when I got home. I asked them if they had my tissue on file, they said yes. I told Dr. Coe what I found out. She got very defensive. On my next visit, she said there wasn't enough tissue on file to do the test anyway. My mother was with me during all visits and can collaborate my story.

Also during chemo I repeatedly asked Dr. Coe if I needed radiation, she said all the margins were very clear. After chemo I took a job in a new school district. I had to find a new oncologist. My new oncologist asked me if I had radiation, I told her I hadn't. She rescheduled me for the following week, saying she needed to have my records reviewed by another pathologist. She took my records to the tumor board at the hospital, they were in agreement, my margins were not clear and I definately needed radiation.

A lawyer I consulted said I had no damages because I was getting treatment, even though it was delayed by a year, I was at least getting it.

I was told the radiation would probably ruin my reconstruction, but that the radiation was necessary. So of course my reconstruction was ruined.

Again the SAME lawyer told me if it can be fixed, then I don't have a lawsuit. So I had surgery to have it fixed. I contracted a terrible staph infection that required the entire removal of the reconstructed breast and the surrounding tissue. Skin had to be stretched from my side and stomach to close the gap left in my chest. I was told NEVER to attempt reconstruction again!

Now here's the kicker. It was too late to file a lawsuit! More than two years had passed since my initial diagnosis. The first year I didn't even know I needed radiation, then completed radiation during the second year and attempted reconstruction, which took quite awhile. So after all the damage was done, two years had passed.

An independent insurance investigator agreed I did suffer from negligence and would prevail in a lawsuit had the 2 year statute of limitations not already passed. Even though it took over 2 years for this negligence to transpire made no difference to Freeman Hospital.

I have a deep concaved horribly scared chest. Getting a prosthesis to fit correctly is impossible. The pain from the nerve damage is constant. I had been in contact with Dr. Manning about this from the Freeman's Risk Management Department. I have saved all of his emails, even the one where he admits my margins were "extremely close". According to medical guidelines regarding close margins, radiation therapy is warranted. Mine were extremely close, yet Dr. Coe said my margins "looked great". I should have been told about the results and given a choice about radiation.

Even the independent insurance investigator felt bad about what happened. I'm just one of those rare cases that the statue shouldn't apply to because it took that long to see if the injuries were permanent.

I think Freeman's can afford to AT LEAST pay for a specially made prosthesis that will fit me. That's the very least they could do. People can sue for all kinds of things, but when someone like me, with actual damages can't, then Freeman should step up to the plate and take some damn responsibility.

I received questionable care from the beginning to the end with Dr. Coe

While Freeman's maintains my margins were clear, but extremely close, the other hospital said my margins were not clear, that they were positive. I think I should be exempt from the 2 year statute since this all came to my attention after the limit had passed.

I'm screwed, disfigured and in pain while Freeman keeps raking in the money to build new wings, have new construction done and continually update their facility. If they cared as much about me as they did their building, maybe I wouldn't be in this bad of shape. You think they could afford to say that even though the statute has passed, they're willing to help me since it was shown there was negligence involved.

Would you be interested in sharing your story during a live forum on healthcare issues?

I'm not sure what's going on here, but a followup comment posted by me has disappeared.

Freeman maintains my margins were negative, though extremely close, the other hospital states in my records my margins were positive. Negligence was shown on Freeman's part by the insurance investigator. Due to circumstances beyond my control, the statute of limitations had passed by the time all the treatments and surgeries were done. The statute clock starts ticking at the time of diagnosis.

You would think a supposedly caring and compassionate hospital would do the right thing and offer some help since they were negligent. They rake in the money and spend it on their appearance by building new wings, decorating their facility and continually upgrading. If they had spent as much attention on my care as they do their building, I wouldn't be in this mess physically and emotionally.

Come on Freeman Healthcare Systems, do the right thing!

How do I get in touch with you?

Journal23 wrote:

Would you be interested in sharing your story during a live forum on healthcare issues?

Are you the same woman who spoke at the roundup for cancer survivors during the sale? I thought your story sounded familiar. It's not easily forgotten. Your situation was handled poorly by the hospital. I'm getting ahead of myself though. Reply back to let me know whether or not you are the same woman.

HAD IT wrote:

How do I get in touch with you?
<quoted text>

YES! I am the samw woman.

I know who you are, I will be able to get a hold of you.

jk