malpractice and the elderly?

Question

It seems to me that medical providers get away with all kinds of gross negligence with elderly people, and if they die - they go - well they were old, or they had this or that problem, - they always have something that backs them up legally - when in truth what killed them was the doctor's mistake. - example. My wife died in June 2006 at 42. she had a long history of heart trouble due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - the night before she cam to the ER and she was symptomatic and it passed and they let her go home. she practically begged them to keep her - telling them that it's normal procedure to keep anyone with hypertrophic cardio myopathyh overnight if they are symptomatic. The doctor didn't understand the condition and let her go home and he was an IDIOT because he didn't know and didn't try to get help - he could have got her to another facility at that time. Next day she dies of sudden death. I still maintain it was the doctor's negligence

and so I don't really have a case to prove it.
it seems that if someone is old they can' get away with any kind of negligence and they just don't have to try very hard to save the person because they reason they'll die anyway. It makes me very angry that they do this.

Answer 1

Art, 42 years old is NOT old by any means, not even with cardiomyopathy---I worked for a cardiac surgeon and cardiologists for over 30 years---YOU HAVE A MAJOR CASE, but please don't wait until they destroy the records---go to the medical records office of that hospital today-- request a transcript of all records- blood tests, doctors notes, nurses notes, any tests done on her-- you will have to pay---if her ejection fraction was below 20%, the case will be questioned because that means her heart was only pumping 20 percent of blood through her body....call an attorney today, look them up on the internet-- you want a Jewish attorney--no prejudice other than they are truly the best and are cut throat and know how to get the money---go for someone WAY OUT OF YOUR TOWN-- he cannot be within 100 miles of where you live-- pick the biggest city near you that you can drive to in 2 hours---right now take the time and right down word for word everything you remember them telling you about her condition--her vital signs--her blood pressure, her pulse, what her EKG showed, if a cardiologist was even called in to see her. Find out of the jerkoff doctor that did see her is just a new intern--June is the worse month to be admitted to any hospital that is a teaching hospital because they have the "newbies" who know less than the janitors running the show.

If you don't' remember all the doctors names that saw her that night, and that is understandable considering the condition you were in, it will be on the notes--may be---if the hospital already started to cover- they will not have the newbies name on the sheets- they will have the attending sign.


You have a case---a definite case---NO ONE should be sent home in severe heart failure-- she should've been put on a cardiac floor- with cardiac monitoring- IV meds, and even considered for a heart transplant---was that EVER mentioned to you? I ask because my brother had severe cardiomyopathy died at 52 but he had lung and heart damage from Hodgkins as a child (cobalt treatment destroyed the heart and lung muscle tissue).

Look online for lawyers NOW

Then go in WORD and type everything you remember form that night or if you have a tape recorder, record it the best you remember--were there any other family members present? Get them to do the same as far as dictation or typing what they overheard and was told.

I am SO SO sorry for your loss, this hospital and that doctor should be sued to the hilt--and you still have time....good luck to you sir, money will not replace her but it will teach them a lesson on how to treat a human being........this is the worse thing I ever heard of and I live in a small town.

Answer 2

your wife was not old, at 42 she was young. if you think that malpractice was involved, talk to an attorney and not YA