Do you think we could sue the hospital or atleast make them not treat anyone else like this?

Question

When my mom woke up on that early saturday morning with her head hurting and spinning, she went like paralyzed and could not speak or even move (Due to a blood clot on her brain) and the ambulance people and the hospital threatened to pump her stomach if she did not tell them what was wrong with her.
She couldn't tell them cause she had so much swelling and pressure on her brain from the blood clot.
My sister had to argue with that doctor in the er to fly her out to UK hospital where our mom has a doctor there cause she suffers from portal hypertension.

It took an hour for the ambulance to get to her house which is only 15 minutes away. (I mean an hour total plus another hour of telling them that they could not do anything for her at the hospital in our town)

I mean in those 2 hours or better that could have busted in her head and killed her.
She is doing better, she is out of the hospital but now in a rehab place to recover.

What do you think?

My mom does not even take pills except for her blood pressure and a water pill. They treated her (I was not there but a family member was) like a junkie. I mean how can they do this?
Also they poked her heel with a needle and i do not know why (They did not draw blood) plus they were touching her eyeballs (why?)
I am going to file complaints about all of this because their stupidness could have costed her -her life and us -our mom.

Answer 1

You could most definitely sue this hopsital! No one has any right to threaten someone in need of medical attention or refuse to give the attention needed. They are supposed to be there in an emergency, no questions asked....especially if it's serious. I'm glad that she is doing much better and thank goodness they finally pulled their heads out of their butts and treated the poor woman. That is very scary!!!

Answer 2

Sometimes when a person is waiting for the emergancy personel to respond time passes in slow motion and the wait seems longer than the reality.It is easy to become confused on basic issues such as this because you are usually preoccupied to comforting the patient as best you can.I am not sure if I understand how this went but if your mother was unable to speak for herself she may have exhibited similar signs of someone who may have taken an acccidental overdose ( not a drug addict).At least that is what I'd think when they suggested pumping her stomach. E.R. staff would not be aware of the clot until further testing and must try treat according to the symptoms they see. Did your sister tell the E.R, doctor about your mom's condition or about the meds she is on? Your mom's doctor would be familiar with your mpm's medical history, the E.R. doctor is getting some or all of this information from a family member who may be unclear or confused because of stress.As for poking her foot with a needle they were probably checking to see if she would respond to external stimulation since you said that your mom experienced paralysis.All of the events of an emergancy room are frightening to the family because they are foreign to the family but the medical staff must react quickly to treat the patients symtoms.Unfortunately the staff may not have enough time to allay your fears and concerns because in any medical emergancy time is of the essence.If your mom's vitals were not stable they would not put her at further risk by flying her anywhere.I'm sure that if you speak to the E.R. doctor now or to her family doctor (s)he may be able to further enlighten you.I'm glad your mom is showing improvement. I will continue to keep you both in my prayers.Take care.

Answer 3

My husband is a paralegal and works for his father (who is a personal injury attorney) and I know as far as Med Malpractice is concerned the amount you are awarded in a law suit settlement depends on the effects of the malpractice. In some cases, even death, there is a limit as to how much money you receive.
For this case, the amount awarded would depend on how much damage was caused to your mother by having to wait for the ambulance. For example, if she was being forced to wait for the ambulance .. and during that time a vessel popped and killed her, you could sue for wrongful death.
As for now, you can only sue for what damages occured from her wait for the ambulance.
You said they threatened to pump her stomach .. did they pump her stomach? did she have any complications from them pumping her stomach?
is there any long term damage(s) from her having to wait for an hour for the ambulance?
that is what all Med Mal cases depend on.
you said, in those 2 hours, that 'could' have busted in her head and killed her .... but it didn't .. which means she can't sue for something that 'could' have happend.
However, is she in rehab BECAUSE she had to wait so long for the ambulance? if she had gotten to the hospital sooner, would she be home instead of in rehab? that is the question.
If there is any way that you can prove she is in rehab due to having to wait for the ambulance .. that could be reason enough for you to file a law suit.
Everything is based on loss ..
did she lose any money by not being able to work because she is in rehab?
Things like that.
It's all about her losses, stemming from having to wait for the ambulance.
good luck! God bless!

Answer 4

i didn't realize you were in the uk! i'm not sure about the law in england but in the us, i would say to go and make the complaints to the hospital and whoever you need and speak to an attorney or barrister (i hope i'm right) and they can help you decide from there