Soo Looking Furrward to Surgery!! [GOING Home..]

[Cinder & Smoke]

This is what the doctor in the ER told me:

He said ... it is possible for the blood to clot as it circulates through the body
which could be the cause of the breathing and vision problems.

They ran tests and found that this luckily was not the case with Gina.

Oh---Kay ...
So they know what DID NOT cause the breathing & vision problems ...

So WHAT DID cause those problems, and the current pain ???

Sounds like you got a total NON Answer to a serious medical question.
Did GINA sign a Consent Form or Medical Power of Attorney form designating
YOU or your parents as a spokesperson for her??

Someone should be designated to talk directly with the Doctors and Nurses; and then
take the time to be SURE Gina fully understands the medical information.

[Taz_Zoee]

Oh---Kay ...
So they know what DID NOT cause the breathing & vision problems ...

So WHAT DID cause those problems, and the current pain ???

Sounds like you got a total NON Answer to a serious medical question.
Did GINA sign a Consent Form or Medical Power of Attorney form designating
YOU or your parents as a spokesperson for her??

Someone should be designated to talk directly with the Doctors and Nurses; and then
take the time to be SURE Gina fully understands the medical information.

OH--KAY.

The doctors said the problems could have been the meds she took at 3am. And he would not write things out for Gina. A clerk, who was not very educated, tried to help and write things out for her. She even stated she could not write everything out that the doctor said because she didn't know the terms.
I had asked the doctor NUMEROUS times to write down what he was saying for her and he wouldn't do it, that is why the clerk tried to help. Every person that walked into the room said....we need to get an interpreter in here. And a consent form or anything was not offered. Gina is ABLE to understand IF the doctor would have written things down.

[Cinder & Smoke]

The Lord helps those that Help Themselves!

OH--KAY.

The doctor ... would not write things out for Gina.
A clerk ... tried to help and write things out for her.
She even stated ... she didn't know the terms.
I had asked the doctor NUMEROUS times to write down what he was saying ...
and he wouldn't do it ...

Every person that walked into the room said ... we need to get an interpreter in here.
A consent form or anything was not offered.
Gina is ABLE to understand IF the doctor would have written things down.

Gina, HELP THYSELF!!

Almost eveything you say those hospital "clowns" did
was a violation of Federal ADA LAWS!

Gina has been deaf long enough to KNOW there are ADA LAWS written to both
prevent this type of treatment AND to CORRECT it when and while it is happening in the real world!
It's time for her to start USING these Laws to help herself!

There are small, concise summaries of the ADA LAWS that she could laminate and carry with her -
they TELL Hospitals and Doctors what MUST be done to translate for a deaf person.

Look at and READ this National Associaton of the Deaf Q&A page >>>
http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=138000

MOST "local" "Help Hotlines" run 24/7 and have folks ON CALL - 24/7 - who can
repond to a local hospital to assist with translating for a deaf person - at NO COST (FREE)!

CONSENT Forms:

Another FEDERAL Requirement!
EVERY Hospital has to have available Permission / Consent forms that allow a
patient to SPECIFY
friends, family, clergy, ANYONE that the patient wishes to have INFORMED about the
patients condition, prognosis, and treatment options. IT's the LAW - they gotta do it!

Gina is NOT helpless ... but it's past time for her to stop "acting" like she's helpless!
She's got to start to USE these ADA Laws to HELP HERSELF!

*End of Rant*

/s/ Phred

[Karen]

I do know, Phred, that Gina has taken lawsuits against certain California hospitals in the past for just this sort of thing.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Gina has taken lawsuits against certain California hospitals in the past
for just this sort of thing.

Bringing a lawsuit won't resolve anything for YEARS AFTER the poor service, poor treatment,
pain, and suffering has happened.

MOST of these ADA problems happen because the folks ON DUTY are ill informed
or don't think they have access to the tools (translator) to rectify the situation -
so they bluff it and pretend there is no problem!

A couple of always-handy laminated cards EXPLAINING the ADA provisions,
along with a few 24/7 Help Hotline numbers;
and a deaf person has the tools to overcome the poor treatment routine.

And TAKE a Trusted FRIEND!!
SIGN their name onto the Admission Forms - "THIS is my representative ...
he or she MUST be informed of my condition, prognosis, and treatment options.
You must explain my condition to THIS Person as well as myself!"

HELP THYSELF!

/s/ Phred

[Catsnclay]

Phred is 100% correct on everything that he has said, GINA needs to assign SOMEONE other than herself to a consent form, before the surgery would have been nice, but now is not too late.


I'm actully surprised that the doctor talked to you Cindy, you are not related to Gina in any way, so legally he should not have told you anything.......maybe this is why nobody knows what is going on!

My suggestion is that you (Cindy) get Gina to sign that form, just for short term, so that YOU can ask the doctor directly, and get direct answers. Flashing that piece of paper around will get you a lot of answers!

Gina should also print out what Phred told her, and carry that on her person just in case of ER's. She should also have a current, updated list of any and all medication she is taking - even over the counter pills!

The only way things like this will stop, is with education. I'm surprised Gina - will all she seems to have gone through - should already know all of this!

[Cinder & Smoke]

THIS was just posted and then deleted by the poster ...

The information is good and correct ...
BUT the "attitude" is an EXCELLENT Example of what's WRONG with our medical professionals ...
The "attitude" expresses contempt towards the patient

(NOTE: Emphasis ADDED by Phred)

They will not perform a surgery without a consent form signed, period.
They will not do it so that (one not being presented to Gina) is not correct.

Maybe she doesn't remember signing a consent form, but she most certainly did sign one.

If she did not read it, or did not fill out the paperwork correctly -
that is her doing.

Consent forms are in print, therefore can be read by anyone who can read.
... she could have read it before she signed it.

NO operation is performed in this country without a consent form signed. If you try to tell me it was I won't beleive you, I work in the medical industry and I know for a fact they will NOT perform anything on anyone, not even admit you to the hospital, without a consent form and other paperwork signed, that is all in print.

It is the responsibility of the person having the operation to read it and understand it
and if they DON'T understand it, then why are they signing it until they do?
That is the patient's responsibility.

OK, "Medical Pro", you ARE CORRECT about the Consent FORM ...
Gina HAD to be given one and told to sign it ...
OR she'd NOT get treatment nor her knee operation.

What you DIDn'T say is those "forms" run two to three FINE PRINT PAGES;
are often presented with NO "expalnations" other than "You gotta sign this!";
and often aren't further explained if you DO ASK queations!

I've personally been admitted to hospitals TOO Many times lately ...
ONE night THREE TIMES into different facilities - while suffering a HEART ATTACK!

I had NO glasses on, was drugged, drifting in/out of being awake/alert ...
and had NO Freakin idea in the world what I was signing!
On the Second "consent" form I tried to print "Under Duress" before my name ...
Clerk saw it but couldn't read it --- squawked --- but couldn't understand my reply
and let it go.

I *REFUSED* to make decisions or agree to medical procedures UNTIL my two
unrelated "Friends" -
both of whom were EMTs and were being forced to wait in the lobbies -
were allowed IN to the ER *AND* Heard the "story" from the MD Doctor!

THEN the "consent forms" were brought back and THEIR NAMES were both added to my forms.

NOW - imagine if I was DEAF --- couldn't hear a thing the whole time I was there ---
and some less-than-happy-to-be-working-today CLERK shoved a three-page form at me
and *pointed* to the last page signature line!

"Consent Form" is a BADLY named weapon that the hospital uses to protect THEIR Interests,
at the expense of the PATIENT's interests!

(Rant over, for now.)

/s/ Been there; been DONE that way!

[sandragonfly]

I'm starting to wish I hadn't this surgery.. just went through some screaming spasms anf fell again not long ago.

gunshot pains and my foot keeps getting swollen and purplish.. I swear I'd rather have my knee amputated now. delilah, am not in the hospital now and can promise I won't ever go back there.

three of you posters, you're getting it all wrong. you all even spelt interpreter incorrectly and it was not even about the surgery.

please don't even bother to speak before the unspoken story of the survivor.

[lbaker]

Gina, people are only trying to help. There is no cause to be rude to people that are caring and thinking only of your health and well being and to chide them for mistakes in spelling of all things.

[Craftlady]

three of you posters, you're getting it all wrong. you all even spelt interpreter incorrectly and it was not even about the surgery.

please don't even bother to speak before the unspoken story of the survivor.

Btw, correction in grammer........ spelt is NOT a word.
Those 3 posters who spelled incorrectly are JUST HUMAN. Everyone makes errors.

People here on PT are just trying to help you but your not seeing it because of the heavy pain medications clouding your judgement?

There are been some wonderful suggestions and well thought out explainations (for example the post Kelly made comes to mind).

[Daisy and Delilah]

Gina, I was pretty miserable until I called the doctor. He put me in physical therapy. That was the answer. I was a new person after that. Do they have PT scheduled for you yet?

Believe me, I know how you feel. You really start to feel hopeless until the PT people tell you about the exercises and what you need to do to recover as quickly as possible. I hope your doctor has PT plans set up asap. Feel better!

[Alysser]

Sorry you're having so much trouble with this surgery. I'll hope for the best for you.

[shais_mom]

please don't even bother to speak before the unspoken story of the survivor.

you of all people hardly have any room to talk when it comes to spelling!
how petty!
I know you won't believe me and that's fine - but I do hope you can find your doctor or someone that will help relieve your pain. I've been thru arthoscopic knee surgery x 2 - and know how painful it was.

[lbaker]

Here is your chance "survivor"... tell us why you chose not to have an interpreter there after all your previous experiences in hospitals.

[NoahsMommy]

please don't even bother to speak before the unspoken story of the survivor.

Here is your chance "survivor"... tell us why you chose not to have an interpreter there after all your previous experiences in hospitals.

Right on, Laurie! Please, Gina, enlighten us...give us your version of why you wouldn't set up/organize (however one goes about doing this) an interpreter when you've had so many problems in the past?? Why would you repeatedly and WILLINGLY subject yourself to this when its been such a problem that you are subsposedly SUEING the state of California over it - MY tax dollars, btw.

And I agree with the others, if you're going to be checking others out on their spelling, check yours first please. You have MUCH bigger fish to fry to be worrying about spelling, like getting better and scheduling Physical Therapy. I was in TWO car accidents in June where I totalled two vehicles ( ) and Physical Therapy was a godsend as I sprained almost every part of my body. (I never told Pet Talk about this.) Get to Physical Therapy as soon as your MD allows you, you'll be so happy you went.

Believe what you wish, these comments ARE actually made with your best interests in mind. We would love it if you had your life back to normal - no more surgery, no more moving, no more drama - just a happy, regular life.