Posted on 08/23/2010 5:02:24 PM PDT by Jessica2677
I am not really sure what I should do? Her Dr said she will probably be fine and now wont return my call. The tech she has was the one who made this mistake. What do i do?
humblegonner
I’d get her into the ER of the Hospital that doctor is affiliated with. Explain the situation. They will hop to because she is their doctor.
The lab at the hospital said she will need to be tested now, again in 6 months and then again in a year. The stupid tech threw the lancet in the sharps container right after this happened.
Needle stick hotline.
1.888.448.4911
http://www.inviromedical.com/SAFETYRESOURCES/WhattoDoifYouGetaNeedleStick/tabid/230/Default.aspx
And btw, once you notified the Doctor..that Doctor was responsible for making sure things got done that needed to be done because they have the knowledge and expertise.
You don’t.
More negligence.
“She is a good Dr she just hires horrible staff.”
Many doctors are horrible business people. That said, the staff is a very important part of the doctor’s care. If the staff sucks you should go elsewhere. She either doesn’t have the resources to hire better people or doesn’t care enough. Either way you and your child are better off somewhere else.
>>The lab at the hospital said she will need to be tested now, again in 6 months and then again in a year. The stupid tech threw the lancet in the sharps container right after this happened.<<
I’m not sure that the “sharps” are emptied every day in an office setting. It may still be there.
This is for healthcare workers, so it makes references to employer. There is a post-exposure prophylaxis treatment for needle sticks. You say this was a used lancet - from a someone other than your daughter? I would pursue medical advice immediately from someone other than the doctor.
http://needlestick.com/injured.htm
This info is from clicking the arrow to the third screen:
If you suffer an accidental contaminated needlestick injury, you should immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, then report it to your employer. Do not hesitate. Universal precautions require that all blood and other body fluids be treated as though they were contagious. In the wake of a needlestick injury, your employer should provide you with post-exposure prophylaxis in an effort to prevent your contracting HIV. And several tests need to be conducted; such tests may have to be done at intervals over a period of several months to make sure that your needlestick injury does not lead to HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) or any of approximately 20 other bloodborne diseases.
The first thing I would have done ( and you can still do it) is call the police. Seriously. If they won’t return your call you need to get a statement taken as soon as possible. The police should interview the doctor ASAP, and they can go to his home, they don’t have to wait for office hours or returned phone calls. It makes you wonder what their motive would be to not return your call. Are they going to try and deny anything happened? I would also call an attorney and another doctor tomorrow for advice on how to proceed. And don’t sign anything the doctor who hurt your daughter tells you to! If for some reason the police officer will not go to the doctor, at least tell them you want a written record that you contacted the police today, the day it happened, with your side of the story. While this may have been an accident, and the odds are high that everything will be fine, what happened was really wrong and potentiosly very serious.
They should have a record of everyone else tested. That would narrow it down somewhat. Hopefully it was some other little girl with nothing wrong.
The doctor file s bbb pathogen report and draw your daughters blood now and again for the next 6 monprobably wouldn’t hurt to take gamma globulin. Hepatitis vaccines? Probably yes.
Here is what should be done... (this will help you understand what really needs to be done and also find yourself a lawyer ASAP and call your local health dept)
http://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-a-Needle-Stick-Injury-at-Work
Why do that?
First - don’t panic Jess...and don’t pay attention to the blog bullies that have no manners or concern for others.
Checked this Canadian site:
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/needlestick_injuries.html
99.7% of needle stick injuries cause no infection.
There are costs associated with testing. Maybe testing monthly for the next year. She shouldn’t have to pay for any of that. The state medical board should be contacted immediately so they can investigate. They will also give info on other complaints.
They should immediately find out which patients the needle COULD have been used on. Shouldn’t be too difficult. I would call and demand to speak to their office manager, since everyone else isn’t speaking to you. If the office is owned by a larger group, go over their heads and speak with someone that is in charge of them. I’m SURE they would rather quietly work this out, instead of getting attorneys involved. I’d raise total Hell, until I got some answers.
The child will need to be closely monitored. The Doctor’s office should pay for everything involving this. May not be a bad idea to go ahead an contact an attorney. I’m sure they would just LOVE to hear from you regarding this.
I agree with going to the hospital. Poster has said a person at the lab said you have to start care before 2 hours is up.
There are meds people go on that have been stuck.
I would still go to the ER and ask if there is anything they can put her on even though more time has elapsed in hopes that it will help.
That Dr. should have taken care of this point once she knew there was a contaminated lancet.
NEGLIGENCE.
Imagine what a nightmare this will be under Obamacare.
Okay back to the situation at hand.
I wa sstuck twice working in dentist offices and I was never as upset as I am now. Those are pretty good statistics thanks. I would rather it have been me stuck and not her.
Sorry you are going through this.
It’s frightening what can happen at a medical facility.
The germ factor alone creeps me out.
I alcohol swab my hands the second I get out of the clinic and get in my truck.
I use lancets to test blood sugar everyday.
I would freak out if some unknown and untraceable stranger and I used the same lancet.
Prayers for your daughter’s safety.
A good physician does not hire a horrible staff. You need to consult another physician as soon as possible.
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