What Does Quality Mean, Anyway?

Reader Comments
Back to blog

In May 2008 I went into shock after a seizure. I was taken to local emergency room, triaged as being post ictal, with low BP, fast HR and sweating excessively. i was admitted to ER where an ER physician began treating me immediately for "R/O Pneumonia". what kind diagnosis is rule out pneumonia? i objected to his observation of possible pneumonia because I went there going into hypovolemic shock after a seizure and ten minutes later the same physician had me sedated without even asking or telling.I was.given a drug I react badly to called lorazepam. a drug that is a hypnotic sedative that can cause short term amnesia that made me more compliant. After having an unnecessary chest xray that showed "No pneumonia or active disease in chest" end report I was admitted as inpatient and given empiric antibiotics to treat the pneumonia I did not have. I was kept sedated for two days, given more antibiotics and subjected to 16,000 worth of diagnostic tests all negative before someone came and helped me leave AMA, still sedated, begging them to stop since I suffer a severe blood/needle/medical phobia that usually puts me in shock. I coughed one time in the ER and became a "perfect candidate" they said for possible CAP. The entire time there, sedated I just kept saying stop over and over but they all just looked at me and said "Sorry buddy, Dr's orders". my phobia was long ago diagnosed but under control, I have never avoided medical care, I might dread it but I see my Dr when needed. but now I am terrified to go near the hospital even to try and get the billing corrected. I feel like I was assaulted and raped. i have been hurt greatly by the quality compliant care I was subjected to but the hospital got to add me to their numbers for core measure compliance. I am not considering a malpractice suit, I dont want money for damages, I wat answers, apologies and I want to take action to save other people from what I went through. i just cant seem to find appropriate steps to begin.

pamela keller of OH 8:46PM October 06, 2008