Colonoscopy gone bad

hospital | 10/13/02 | self

[Cobra64]

Man almost bled to death as a result of a colonoscopy.

[Cobra64]

Well, doctors tell you that when you manage to age to 50 years old, it is advisable to have a colonoscopy.

I did and almost bled to death.

On March 22nd this year I had a colonoscopy performed. On March 25th, I ended up in an emergency room after losing a tremendous amount of blood.

The doctor was not interested in seeing the amount of blood in the ER's bathroom. After several hours in the ER with all the IV drips, etc., he said he would prescribe an iron supplement in the IV. It told him that he should have checked with my internest since my liver is high in iron content and men my age want medicine WITHOUT iron. This was a "deer in the headlights" gaze.

Three days later (in the intensive care unit (ICU) and more than 15 blood tests, and three visits from my "asshole" doctor, I left the hospital alive. My fear during those three days was leaving my wife and children without their husband/father. I was scared as hell. I still think about it. I have difficulty sleeping, I wake up at night with the sweats. Now I'm angry. If my wife were not at home to take me to the hospital, I'd probably be dead.

Anyone have thoughts on this? Should the doctor be held accountable. I see the excessive bleeding in the ICU for three days and his mis-prescription of an iron diet as irresponsible. This entire fiasco rang up about $17,000 for the doctors, nurses, ICU and initial procedure that caused this fiasco.My wife is scheduled for one of these, and she related our story. Her doc was flabbergasted.

Regards, Cobra

[genefromjersey]

It sure sounds like malpractice ! I've had two of these lovely procedures-no real after effects.

[IncPen]

Call your attorney.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

See a med mal lawyer.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Bummer.

There's a new procedure in some hospitals that is less invasive. They use a cat-scan of the intestine and abdomen and a 3D reconstruction of the image data. The only "invasive" part are (a) the pre-test purge, and (b) right before the test, they inflate your bowel with air. Supposedly they can see pretty small polyps. It is called colonography.

It doesn't require a GI guy to do the test. It is read by a radiologist.

[areafiftyone]

As much as I grit my teeth saying this - get a good lawyer and sue. Calm down and get yourself together and then look for a lawyer that doesn't ask for a fee unless you win and believe me YOU WILL WIN!! I am so sorry for what happened and I hope you get better soon. After all isn't that what Mal-practice insurance is for? Let us know what you decide to do. We are with you all the way.

[cricket]

Like all medical procedures, some Doctors should be performing them. . .and many, should not.

. . .but scary stuff from the get go. . .

[DWSUWF]

Well, if you don't sue the daylights out of this quack-hive you'd be my candidate for cannonization as patron saint of suckers when you do finally die.

[SarahW]

What happened, exactly? Why did you bleed? Was your bowel perforated? The lining torn? An obstruction irritated?

Yes, he should be held accountable if he made mistakes that injured you, and be placed in a position where his post-op care is evaluated and corrected if necessary.

[areafiftyone]

Oh by the way if you do sue - DO IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER!!! That is the most important thing!!!

[kellynla]

If this happened in March have you retained the best PI attorney in NY and if not why not!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

By coincidence, I had a colonoscopy this week. My doctor mentioned this "virtual" colonoscopy. He said it was good, but that currently it is estimated to find 90% of all polyps, etc.

That means the virtual colonoscopy misses 10%, whereas a colonoscopy essentially misses 0%. I for one would not roll the dice on 10% when missing it could mean cancer goes undetected.

[Wonder Warthog]

A family friend had a colonoscopy done as an outpatient prodecure. He almost bled to death in the doctor's office. The doctor panicked when he saw the bleeding, and it was only the quick action on the nurse's part that saved his life. Physician incompetence kills more people than guns.

[Calpublican]

$h*t happens!

[stillafreemind]

Cobra..hope this finds you feeling better..and YES.. I would persue a lawsuit. And I would also have a different doctor keeping track of my progress.

I swear my Dads intestine was damaged by one of these. If you do not have a skillful doctor..these tests can really do you some damage.

Wishing you well..

[Psycho Francis]

How many guns does physician incompetence kill?

Physician incompetence kills more people than guns.

[VeritatisSplendor]

my great-grandfather, who was the most vigorous 92 y.o. man you'd ever want to see, died after his bowel was perforated in a colonoscopy. the family was too deferential to the doctors and did not report or sue. accidents can happen and are not necessarily malpractice but your doctor seems to have been unresponsive and dismissive, which is a very poor sign. consult an attorney and see if you have a case.

Mrs VS

[aruanan]

My wife is scheduled for one of these, and she related our story. Her doc was flabbergasted.

There you go. Though these procedures are routine, they aren't without risk. However, the risk is usually slight. Your wife's doctor's reaction demonstrates this. The iron supplement aspect, though, won't be relevant except to the degree that it deviated from accepted procedure in your situation. Unless you were a patient with hemochromatosis, a brief administration of a standard iron supplement wouldn't have endangered you.

Did you have the procedure done at the same hospital? Though you didn't say this, I assume you told the doctor in the ER that you had had the colonoscopy done, where you had it performed, who did it, and then provided him with the phone number given to you following the procedure to report any unexpected developments. Did both you and he call that number? What did the doctor who did the procedure tell the ER doctor when he was contacted?

[WKB]

Do your best to have the case tried in Holmes County Mississippi. It's a sure thing!

[cherry]

pardon me, but sue because of why?

you had a colonoscopy for a reason....what was it....were you already bleeding?

How did the bleeding stop?...did they have to do surgery?...

It is not malpractice if there is a bad outcome....did you read the consent before you had the procedure?....if you did, or if you had asked....perhaps your doc did not inform you properly, but if he did he would have told you of the many many adverse things that can happen with this procedure as well as any procedure..

you are unhappy with your doc...tell him....but because you had a bad outcome it does not automatically mean you had negligent care....far from it...

and don't belittle what the doc told you about the iron...look up hemachromatosis....it is dangerous to have...