Jun 10, 2009 10:06 AM
10195 Views
I chose this title since I wanted to focus on the specific weak points of Wockhardt which also could be very dangerous
I was admitted at Wockhardt for an unknown fever which lasted for more than a week. Today, you will feel okay to have a surgery, but an un-diagnosed fever is very stressful.. All the tests were coming negative. The consultant doctor (visits once in a day), gives pearls of wisdom every day and leaves you in the hands of resident doctors and nurses. Thats where the trouble starts..
For me, the resident doctors came the first day and took all the details from me like my drinking habit (i said avergae 2-3 social pegs a month) and my medical history( gave him the detail of a gland TB that I had 7 years back which was completely treated). After couple of days, the consultant Dr told me that they are starting me with the Malarial treatment that evening since the tests coming negative suggests a possibility of malaria. But, around evening time before the malarial drugs were given, I got the results of a 5 day old blood culture test from the neighbouring Apollo which suggested Para typhoid. I was very happy to finally know the diagnosis and gave the report to the resident doctor and he called up the Dr. for further instructions.. After some time, the nurse came and tried to give me some new tabs..
I asked what it was and she said that it is for malarial treatment. We got puzzled and asked her why she is giving anti-malarial when it is para typhoid. Her first reaction was that the report I gave her didnot isolate the particular organism responsible for the disease. I got more confused and told her that then the report must be incomplete and we will go to apollo to get the entire report. I further asked her to bring me the report . When I looked at it, I saw that the organism is clearly reported in bold and in the title. When I called the resident doctor to show it, he quickly changed track.. He said that even if I have para typhoid, I can also have malaria.. He took 10 minutes to explain that concept to us, and we trusted his 5 years or more of education and agreed.. But, since we were a bit aggressive in trying to know the logic of the treatment, the resident went back and called the dr again. Then he came back and said that there is no need for malarial treatment since the Consultant said its not necessary. It seems like the consultant was under the impression that the malaria drugs were given already and thats why he didn't ask them to stop that treatment..
To top it off, when I got discharged next day, my first discharge report said that I have an "un-identified" fever and I am an "Alchoholic", "I have gland TB" from childhood and "iam currently diagnosed to have TB along with fever"... Wasn't that a stroke of creativity ?.. I again went to the resident doctor. This lady was different and told me that this was what was written in my medical doc.. Seeing my face getting real red, she went back and checked with all and sundry and removed all of it and made corrections to all the above statements..
When I complained about this to a "Management" lady who comes every day to check if everything is fine (she was always worried about the food, the attendants, changing sheets etc), she took all details and never came back again.. Also, the feedback sheet which comes to all discharged patients magically didnot come to me..
The point that I wanted to bring through this lengthy experience review is that the consultant doctor probably did the right thing, but the residents are really bad in these hospitals. So, always ask questions.. If there is no logic in what is given to you, take a second opinion.. Don't trust any doctor completely.. Go with your judgement always...
PS - I also overheard that a 11 year old kid from my neighbouring room, who came in for a stomach problem, was "mistakenly" taken for a Brain imaging..
