FL - Woman Gives Birth - Winds Up Quadruple Amputee

[CyberLaw]

My God if you go into the hospital for any reason and they remove all of your limbs, they should bloodly well be at my bed when I wake up to tell me in detail why my life will never be the same.

I hope if the hospital is to blame in any way shape or form, that this women is afforded enough money to employ 24 hour help, for the rest of her life, also her family will never be the same.

Something just does not add up here.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

WASHINGTON - Hospital-acquired infections are worsening in the United States, even though the problem is widely recognized, according to a report issued Monday.

And the problem of such infections provides a good indication of which hospitals are prone to errors overall, the report, from Colorado-based Health Grades Inc, finds.

"Hospital-acquired infections rates worsened by approximately 20 percent from 2000 to 2003 and accounted for 9,552 deaths and $2.60 billion, almost 30 percent of the total excess cost related to the patient safety incidents," the company said in its report.

more:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7700998/

 

[Details]

My God if you go into the hospital for any reason and they remove all of your limbs, they should bloodly well be at my bed when I wake up to tell me in detail why my life will never be the same.

I hope if the hospital is to blame in any way shape or form, that this women is afforded enough money to employ 24 hour help, for the rest of her life, also her family will never be the same.

Something just does not add up here.

Reading in the previous thread, it wasn't her own medical record and information about what happened that she can't get - she's trying to get the records of other patients. Presumably the ones she caught it from, or maybe to see if anyone else got it? The hospital can't release that info, which is why they've told her she has to sue, to get a judge to release the records, if she wants to see that.

Why it happened is clear - flesh eating bacteria and an emergency - how is an interesting question - through insufficient hygene, or in spite of all reasonable and standard precautions?

 

[kidzndogznme]

And was she unconscious when she was transported from one hospital to another? If not, where did she think they were taking her and for what reason? If she was unconscious at the time of transport for whatever reason, the treating drs. had the entire time of transport, prep time for the operating drs. etc. to contact next of kin for permission. I noticed in the article attached by the OP, the woman does not come right out and say she never gave permission for the amputations. I only see her claiming that she wasn't given a good explanation.

I agree. I bet the hospital operated on the wrong patient.
But wouldn't an amputee patient be on a different floor than a OB-GYN patient?
I feel so bad for the mother.:sick:

 

[RubyJune]

Apparently she developed a rash a few days after delivery and was told she needed to have a hysterectomy due to an infection....then she went into toxic shock syndrome and was told about the amputation. She married her boyfriend after the amputation while in intensive care. It's at the bottom of this link.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0602/07/pzn.01.html

 

[Amraann]

According to that transscript she was aware of the infection and aware and made the decision to have her limbs amputated.

The pending issue is review of how she came to get the infection.
That is why they have to go to court.

"JUDY HYMAN, CLAUDIA MEIJA'S ATTORNEY: She came in healthy, she delivered a healthy baby and she left and was discharged with no limbs. She contracted a terrible bacterial infection. We want to know why. Was it in the hospital? Were there other people that had it? Did they come in with it? Were there safety issues? Hygiene issues? We don't know. And we want to. And she deserves it.

DORNIN: Their attorney says it's part of the patient's right to know, a law passed by Florida voters in 2004. The law gives patients the right to review records of adverse medical incidents including those which could cause injury or death. But hospital officials say the law is being challenged and won't grant Meija's request unless it's resolved."

I think she really has the right to be reembursed for this but she can't prove the hospital is at fault until the appeal about the law to give patients the right to review records of adverse medical incidents is legally resolved.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Good post Amra. I think the hospital is most likely where she picked up the infection. Hospitals are, after all, where patients have the worst crap there is and its all up close and personal. I don't like going and I definately don't like my kids going there to visit anyone. This lady will most likely prevail in her lawsuit and will be awarded some damages, but the fact is that it won't ever "make her whole" again. There are things we, as patients, can do to try and lesson the chances of this sort of thing happening, but unfortunately, its one of those things that happens too frequently. I'm not sure it can ever be 100% prevented, but I hope they can do better.

 

[curious1]

First of all she's requesting info on other patients, which is a violation of HIPAA privacy law. ORMC said Mejia is requesting information on if there were other patients or someone on her floor with the streptococcus. They said, if they release that to her, that would be a violation of other patients' rights. I worked in medical malpractice for years, and there's ways to get that information, but she'll most likely never get 'names'.

They can tell her if anyone else on the floor had this infection without releasing their names. But it sounds like the hospital is hiding behind HIPA to not providing even that little bit of information. My guess is cross contamination due to unhygenic practices and they are now trying to cover their a$$e$.

 

[luthersmama]

She has received a court order allowing her to see the info.

http://www.topix.net/content/trb/0384157816057894855001320775421072852857


IMHO, the media hype about this case is not helpful. The hospital has to follow rules designed to protect the privacy of ALL patients. It is not an easy situation to be in. The case is horrible enough without the hype.

THe conflict between the FLorida law and the federal law is something that the court had to deal with. THe hospital could not act without a court order.

 

[curious1]

Could they have not just told her "Yes there was a case on your floor?" She would at least have had some clue as to what happened. Again, it sounds like they are hiding behind HIPPA to cover their a$$e$. JMHO

 

[luthersmama]

Could they have not just told her "Yes there was a case on your floor?" She would at least have had some clue as to what happened. Again, it sounds like they are hiding behind HIPPA to cover their a$$e$. JMHO

But there WASN'T a case on her floor. According to the hospital, now that they are allowed to talk, there were no other cases while she was there or around the time she was there. That doesn't seem to be the answer that she wants to hear.

It isn't as simple as "hiding behind HIPPA". Unfortunately, the best news article from back in January is no longer available. Obviously, she has a horrible situation and is likely to sue no matter what the hospital does. Why risk having a few hundred other patients sue for violations of HIPPAA? She will get the information she needs in plenty of time to file her malpractice case. The hospital is forced to proceed cautiously.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Could they have not just told her "Yes there was a case on your floor?" She would at least have had some clue as to what happened. Again, it sounds like they are hiding behind HIPPA to cover their a$$e$. JMHO

They cannot admit liability. They have to answer to people and there are ways of getting this information that they KNOW will be used against them in court. Can you imagine what their liability provider would say if they knew they were admitting liabililty in a potentially multi-million dollar lawsuit? She most likely did nothing to get herself in this situation, but as much as it sucks, there are things that the hospital must do to protect itself. Either this case will go to trial or they'll reach a settlement, but you can't just expect the hospital to write a blank check.

 

[Paladin]

I asked my sister-in-law about this last night who is a doctor that works in a hospital and she said this isn't unheard of. I said infection and immediately she said "oh you mean flesh-eating bacteria?" I was surprised. There's just so many sick people in a hospital, I don't really see how they can control the cleanliness of everything. I think they made a decision to save her life (although a difficult decision), and I don't think she should see a penny. I don't think the hospital is trying to hide or cover up anything.

 

[luthersmama]

To make matters worse, this case is being cited by home birth advocates as a prime example of why you should have your baby at home instead of a hospital.

I think home birth can be fine, with a qualified attendant and a mother who has some common sense and who understands the process and the risks, but scaring people into it isn't right.

 

[Details]

To make matters worse, this case is being cited by home birth advocates as a prime example of why you should have your baby at home instead of a hospital.

I think home birth can be fine, with a qualified attendant and a mother who has some common sense and who understands the process and the risks, but scaring people into it isn't right.

This is just one case - the odds of some other complication that a home birth can't handle and is lifethreatening is far worse than the odds of being the one quadruple amputee.

It sounds like the hospital could be not responsible for this - that's something that people have a hard time with - sometimes there is no one to blame, no one liable - something awful happened to her, and it can never be fixed - but it may not be the hospital's fault.

 

[curious1]

This is just another reason we have to stop using antibiotics for everything and stop making everything antibacterial. If you use something 'antibacterial' and you don't use it properly you end up not killing the bacteria just makeing it more resistant. Hospitals use to use more natural ways to control bacteria. If you have something like natural tea tree or I think lavender it has been shown to kill the germs and they don't become resistant to the tea tree or lavender since they are both natural. It was not until after WWII when everyone got on the 'better living through chemicals' bandwagon that we started having these problems. I seem to remember reading somewhere a few years back when I was getting into essential oils that some hospitals were going back to using them to clean because the bacteria would not build up a resistance. I will see if I can find the info. Here is one site.....http://www.manchester.ac.uk/press/newsarchive/title,8376,en.htm


Don't get me wrong modern med is wonderful and there are just some things that cannot be remedied any other way, but we have go overboard. Your kids sneezes, you take him to the dr and he prescribes an anitbiotic when it's really not necessary and some parents won't leave the dr office with out a prescription. They pretty much force the dr's hand. Luckily dr's are becoming more aware of the problems these cause. (And for the record no, I am not a tree hugging liberal, just an informed Conservative.)

 

[GlitchWizard]

This is just another reason we have to stop using antibiotics for everything and stop making everything antibacterial. ...(And for the record no, I am not a tree hugging liberal, just an informed Conservative.)

Well, I'm a tree hugger and have the same problem from my angle. The antibacterial detergents/soaps people in Tallahassee and the surrounding areas use, are having an adverse affect on the beautiful waterways and wildlife just South of here. :-(

 

[curious1]

Yeah, that's a big problem too. I use only cleaning products that are natural. Did you know that vinegar is good for unclogging drains when mixed with baking soda? Also, it's cool. Looks like a jr high school volcano project.

 

[IdahoMom]

A theory, that this women was a victim of poor infection control, as in "another patient".

Flesh eatting disease is "something that gets bad, real quick and people can die from it.

I put money that somehow the hospital is responsible, had to act quick to save her life(because of their fault) and had to take off her limbs.

Flesh eatting disease can kill a person, and it "eats" the tissue and the tissue has to be removed.

That is why the hospital is "hiding" behind how they see the legislation, because it is their own best interest to do so.

I hope thiis women sues for millions of dollars.........

My aunt died a couple of years ago from flesh eating bacteria. She had vascular surgery shortly before she was infected (we're sure she was infected during or after surgery). She went back into the hospital at 6 p.m. with flu like symptoms including a very high fever. She was told within a short period that she was going to die. She was dead at around 2 a.m. It killed her very quickly from the time she was diagnosed.

The sad thing is that she was terrified of dying and fought and fought it...she even tried to get out of her hospital bed...as if, if she got up out of that bed, she would be ok.

 

[Amraann]

They cannot admit liability. They have to answer to people and there are ways of getting this information that they KNOW will be used against them in court. Can you imagine what their liability provider would say if they knew they were admitting liabililty in a potentially multi-million dollar lawsuit? She most likely did nothing to get herself in this situation, but as much as it sucks, there are things that the hospital must do to protect itself. Either this case will go to trial or they'll reach a settlement, but you can't just expect the hospital to write a blank check.

thanks and I agree ...
However it is somewhat possible that the hospital did follow procedure and she still got sick??
I question it because I know this version of strep is remarkably viriluant and hard to fight. In Light of that I wonder if there really is any fault?