Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Woman Becomes Quadruple Amputee After Giving Birth {Not a Joke}
wftv.com ^ | January 20, 2006

Posted on 01/21/2006 4:15:11 PM PST by Popman

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A Sanford mother says she will never be able to hold her newborn because an Orlando hospital performed a life-altering surgery and, she claims, the hospital refuses to explain why they left her as a multiple amputee.

The woman filed a complaint against Orlando Regional Healthcare Systems, she said, because they won't tell her exactly what happened. The hospital maintains the woman wants to know information that would violate other patients' rights.

Claudia Mejia gave birth eight and a half months ago at Orlando Regional South Seminole. She was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando where her arms and legs were amputated. She was told she had streptococcus, a flesh eating bacteria, and toxic shock syndrome, but no further explanation was given.

The hospital, in a letter, wrote that if she wanted to find out exactly what happened, she would have to sue them.

"I want to know what happened. I went to deliver my baby and I came out like this," Mejia said.

Mejia said after she gave birth to Mathew last spring, she was kept in the hospital with complications. Twelve days after giving birth at Orlando Regional South Seminole hospital, she was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center where she became a quadruple amputee. Now she can not care for or hold her baby.

"Yeah, I want to pick him up. He wants me to pick him up. I can't. I want to, but I can't," she said. "Woke up from surgery and I had no arms and no legs. No one told me anything. My arms and legs were just gone."

Her 7-year-old son, Jorge, asks his mother over and over what happened to her. Neither she nor her husband has the answer.

"I love her, so I'll always stick with her and take it a day at a time myself," said her husband, Tim Edwards.

The couple wants to know how she caught streptococcus, during labor or after. She doesn't know. She knows she didn't leave the hospital the same.

"And why, I want to know why this happened," she said.

Her attorney, Judy Hyman wrote ORHS a letter saying, according to the Florida statute, "The Patients Right To Know About Adverse Medical Incidents Act," the hospital must give her the records.

"When the statute is named 'Patients Right To Know,' I don't know how it could be clearer," Hyman said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: antibiotics; flesheatingbacteria; infection; mrsa; unbelievable
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 221-231 next last
To: Popman

This story makes no sense. If they amputated without permission or anything?


61 posted on 01/21/2006 4:54:50 PM PST by Hildy (The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GummyIII

I have been a court reporter since 1980; you can bet she has some, most likely top of the line, paid for by the hospital.

Once she got the infection, they went into overtime taking care of her.


62 posted on 01/21/2006 4:54:55 PM PST by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: GummyIII

Interesting...so they're saying she caught something at the hospital...sounds about right.


63 posted on 01/21/2006 4:56:18 PM PST by Hildy (The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Kirkwood
The amputations saved her life...or being a quadruple amputee for the rest of your life?

Agree.
re: post 50
...somethings not right..
Some Injury Lawyers are, like Vultures (w/ apologies to vultures)
:^/

64 posted on 01/21/2006 4:56:19 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :^)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Popman

Bookmarked for the next time I think my life sucks.


Communist Goals 1963 Congressional Record

65 posted on 01/21/2006 4:56:48 PM PST by Fintan (See??? Sometimes I do read the articles.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PLMerite
Their answer is absolutely unacceptable.

Perhaps you should read the rest of the thread before you go popping off.

66 posted on 01/21/2006 4:57:30 PM PST by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Popman

The fact that they won't give her information on HER OWN CONDITION shows they have something to hide. It's my understanding they cannot refuse to give someone their medical records. This is one case I'd like to be on the jury.


67 posted on 01/21/2006 4:57:51 PM PST by sandbar (when)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fintan

Why would you EVER think your life sucks? :-)


68 posted on 01/21/2006 4:58:12 PM PST by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Old Professer
I suppose any wisecracks about her lawyer's last name would be tasteless, right?

LOL!!!

I missed that completely the first time around.

69 posted on 01/21/2006 5:00:20 PM PST by albee ("Those that bite the hand that feeds them will lick the boot that kicks them!" - Eric Hoffer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: skinkinthegrass

wsj had a story this week on staph infection caused deaths
widespread overuse of antibiotics is breeding super bugs
what doesn't kill them makes them stronger in a sense


70 posted on 01/21/2006 5:00:22 PM PST by nascarnation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: peacebaby

Do you REALLY think that's the most important part of this story? If the hospital believes they had to cut of her limbs to save her, they wouldn't wait to get Blue Cross approval.


71 posted on 01/21/2006 5:00:40 PM PST by Hildy (The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: peacebaby

Do you REALLY think that's the most important part of this story? If the hospital believes they had to cut of her limbs to save her, they wouldn't wait to get Blue Cross approval.


72 posted on 01/21/2006 5:00:43 PM PST by Hildy (The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: sandbar
This is one case I'd like to be on the jury.

Well, I hope you're never on a jury, period; you don't have the WHOLE story -- and the part you "have" is wrong.

73 posted on 01/21/2006 5:01:05 PM PST by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Popman

What's she gonna do? She doesn't have a leg to stand on...


74 posted on 01/21/2006 5:01:23 PM PST by Junior (Identical fecal matter, alternate diurnal period)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Howlin; Hildy; Popman; All
Now, Mejia, 24, of Sanford, has begun a legal battle. She is not asking for money. Right now, her lawyers are demanding that Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc., which operates the Longwood hospital, release information about other victims of the same bacteria.

All told, Mejia was in the hospital more than three months. She is now at home in Sanford, where she has a remote-controlled wheelchair. She has artificial legs as well, but she has the strength to walk on them for only about 30 minutes, her husband said.

Found here.

75 posted on 01/21/2006 5:02:14 PM PST by GummyIII
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: Popman
The hospital, in a letter, wrote that if she wanted to find out exactly what happened, she would have to sue them.

Translation: A nurse or doctor or pharmacist screwed up REALLY, REALLY badly and they are not going to admit it without a court order.

76 posted on 01/21/2006 5:02:26 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (G-d is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Old Professer

No, but saying her hospital stay cost her an arm and a leg would be...


77 posted on 01/21/2006 5:03:43 PM PST by Junior (Identical fecal matter, alternate diurnal period)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: sandbar

See #16....they did give her info on her own condition, just not on others who may have had the same thing happen. The posted article is misleading.


78 posted on 01/21/2006 5:04:09 PM PST by GummyIII
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

THis is one of the worst stories I have ever heard. She picked up something at that hospital. Why can't companies just admit when they screwed up and do everything in their power to make things right before it gets to this point. It would make life easier on everyone. It's called Risk Management...now everyone's gonna be after the hospital. What a shame.


79 posted on 01/21/2006 5:05:31 PM PST by Hildy (The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Popman
Great. This is the hospital I use. It's right down the street from my house.

This hospital is also just a few blocks away from where that middle-school kid commited suicide-by-cop.

And ALSO where the cop shot a few folks for not letting him into a poker game the other day.

Maybe there is a permanent full moon out overhead.

80 posted on 01/21/2006 5:06:48 PM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 221-231 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson