Y&R Discussion Group

Topic: My poor mother is in the hospital and crying hysterically....

She wants to come home because they can't remove her kidney stone for a few more days so she's just lying there waiting for time to pass.

Her doctor and her agreed that she could leave this morning, then the house doctor came in and changed it....she called me at work crying hysterically, asking if I could come and get her, but I just came back to work after being out two months and I can't leave.  She and I HATE being in the hospital.

Question please: If you walk out of a hospital (versus a doctor releasing you) can you ever go back to that hospital and will they treat you again? or can they refuse to treat you?

Thank you for ALL of your advice.  It was right on target.

The house doctor ended up releasing her AFTER making her wait ALL day....she finally got out of there at 3pm.  She was so upset, she started vomitting.  She's too fragile to get that upset, but it done and over, she's home now, but has to go back when the doctor is ready to remove the Kidney Stone (could be a couple of weeks).

On the day they said I could go home (Sept 30th at 8:00am) they did the same thing to me except mine was worse because a nurse who didn't like me lied and went and told the house doctor I'll quote exactly the way it was told to me......

"a friend of Donna's called the hospital and said she just got off the phone with Donna and Donna told her she's suicidal and as soon as she is released, she is going home and going to do herself bodily harm."

First of all, I knew all of my friends that I spoke to that day and the day prior and NONE of them would ever lie like that about me.   Second of all, I NEVER EVER EVER said that to any of my friends.

Thirdly, I spent NINE days fighting for my life, why would I kill myself AFTER fighting nine days for my life.

So what they did was call in the hospital psychiatrist.  They told me he wasn't available until 5:00pm.  I told them I refused to wait until 5pm, that I was released at 8am.  It was now 2:30pm.

I called my attorney and went and told the head nurse, I'm waiting to hear from my attorney (and I was, I was telling the truth, I had actually called him).

20 minutes later the hospital psychiatrist came walking in my room, started asking me questions, and after about 10 minutes he stopped me and said, "you're not only NOT suicidal, you're not even rebellious."

I said, "Can I go now?"  He said, "let me give them my report" and he did.  Within 15 minutes they brought in my release papers.

I can't prove it was the nurse who interviewed me that told that LIE, but boy if I could prove it, I'd throw a law-suit at that hospital faster than someone can spit or blink.

Hospitals need to STOP doing this to patients...we are human beings too you know?  okay I'm done venting...lol.

Replies: (list all replies)

I'm glad your mother is home. I'm sorry she had to go through so much grief to get there. . . UncleJJJ

Thank you UncleJJJ, you are so kind, thanks again.

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Posted by: farmer brown
Date posted: Mon Nov 9 20:53:27 2009
Message:

I almost felt like a hostage during my last day at the hospital a few years ago. I was told at 11 a.m. I was being released. At 4 p.m., I was told by a nurse they never got the release order. At 6 p.m., I was told I could go. I lived two blocks from the hospital. They wouldn't let me walk home or even take a cab. At 8 p.m., I finally got a ride arranged, after walking well more than two blocks inside the hospital trying to get my things, which they had lost.

What a bunch of bureaucratic ball-busting phawkers. You can see I'm not a big fan of hospitals. I actually kept notes of all the things they phawked up while there and got a friend to take them, in case I died. That's how scared I was of their incompetence. Among other things, they brough the wrong medication to my room -- TWICE.  [And this was at a hospital that had a good reputation -- and the emergency room was indeed good]. I understand they have a lot of issues at hospitals to deal with an outsider would find hard to understand, but you'll never ever in a million years convince me that they HAVE to treat people with such horrible disrespect and outright negligence. The only reason I didn't go see a lawyer afterward was I wanted to put the whole five-day experience behind me.

I'm sorry you and your mother have been put through it like you have been, Donna. Sending good thoughts your way.

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Thank you farmer, I'm sorry you had to go through what you did. What is wrong with the horpital bureucracy today? I know I spelled that incorrectly, sorry.

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Posted by: Glitter
Date posted: Mon Nov 9 20:22:28 2009
Message:
I just remembered something. I heard about a machine..that can pulverized this kidney stone with lasers... or some high pitched vibrations..? I think I heard about this on the show..The Doctors that come on in the mornings here..at ten a.m. I wished I had better information about this..

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I heard this too. I think her kidney stone is too big for this. They actually have to go in an remove it because it is so big. I'll keep you posted when she has it done. Tks!

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Posted by: OLDTIMER
Date posted: Mon Nov 9 16:11:12 2009
Message:

Donna my heart goes out to you and your mother... although I personally have not experienced kidney stones I know people who have and I understand it's extremely painful.  If your mom will feel better at home that's where she should be.  So sorry you have to deal with the stress of this so soon after your ordeal... but hey, at least you're alive to be there for her.  I send you all the positive thoughts and energy possible.  Take care.

OT

Replies: (list all replies)

Thank you. She finally came home late yesterday afternoon. Poor thing was all upset. I hate to see elder people get all stressed out over something that didn't have to happen.

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Posted by: Glitter
Date posted: Mon Nov 9 14:52:28 2009
Message:
I will say a prayer for your mother. I've no idea what this feels like. I bet it's small as a green pea and it's giving her so much grief..and agony.

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Thank you Glitter, you are so kind and so sweet (((huggss)))) Thank you.

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Posted by: Liz
Date posted: Mon Nov 9 14:47:06 2009
Message:
She can sign herself out AMA (against medical advice) which would absolve the hospital & the medical staff from any liability if she has a bad outcome.

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You are absolutely right, thank you. That's what everyone here at work is telling me (they are doctors, not lawyers, but they know because they worked in a hospital setting before coming here).

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Posted by: Peridot
Date posted: Mon Nov 9 14:26:04 2009
Message:
Donna, I agree with Uncle JJJ below, unless there's some medical reason for your mom to remain in the hospital.  I'm sorry you have to handle this so soon after your own hospital experience.  I'll say a prayer for your mother.

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Peridot, thank you soo very much. I bet those prayers speeded up the process. Thank you.

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Posted by: UncleJJJ
Date posted: Mon Nov 9 14:12:02 2009
Message:
I would have her doctor call the house doctor and tell them that they are allowing her to go home until they can schedule the removal. There is really no reason for her to lie around in the hospital padding the bill.

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That's what my mother did - she called her urologist and made him talk to the house doctor. RIGHT ON ADVICE!!!!

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Posted by: bbyr
Date posted: Mon Nov 9 14:11:04 2009
Message:

Here's my two cents...I think if your mom leaves the hospital against doctors advice then she may be asked to sign a waiver which releases the hospital of any liability should anything happen because of her current medical situation.

However, if your mom returns to the hospital, I think the hospital has an obligation to treat her. I don't think they can turn her away.

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You are exactly right....that's what everyone here at work is telling me.

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