Misadventures in Medicine, A Cautionary Tale

Worth Noting

Recall that rather alarming statistic from the beginning of the story? Let's review it now. One in twenty patients in the US is harmed by Medical Error. Harm can be minor (as in my case) or major (paralysis, death). Either way, medical error/mismanagement is common and anytime you are a patient, you are at risk.

I was placed at increased risk of sustaining further damage to my spine, including potential spinal cord injury and paralysis, as most of my medical care givers did not follow proper spinal precautions. In hindsight, that risk turned out to be very low, because my fracture was found to be stable, but the mismanagement occurred before that was known to be the case. To a lesser extent, the bracing protocol was harmful to me. It increased my pain and caused me unnecessary emotional distress, which I would still be suffering today, if I had not taken matters into my own hands and found a solution on my own. My life was never in peril, and I was never really in very serious danger, but that is not true for many less fortunate people.

Important to note, are the things that were done correctly. My fracture was accurately diagnosed, and a generally effective treatment was prescribed. Bracing is an effective management strategy for many people with stable burst fractures. My neuro-spine team's rigid bracing protocol could really use some updating, based on the latest evidence, which would allow it to be modified to better meet the needs of individual patients. My doctor should have worked with me to develop a good treatment plan for me. Patients should not be left to suffer unnecessarily or put in a position of having to figure things out for themselves.

There are some lessons to be learned here. First and foremost: Advocate for yourself. If at all possible, if you do not have a medical background, try to find a friend or relative who does, to advocate for you. Demand to be fully informed before giving consent to treatment (I don't consider that my doctor ever did gain my informed consent for his treatment plan). Pay attention. Ignorance is not bliss. If you don't understand something, ask for clarification. Maintain a healthy skepticism and ask lots of questions. Trust, but verify. Most health care providers are well-educated, well-intentioned, hard-working professionals with your best interests in mind.

Before wrapping up, I need to add some fine print. Remember the DISCLAIMER: Do not mistake this account for medical advice. Every person, hence, every patient is different. What works for me might not be appropriate for you and visa-versa.

This story is told from my perspective and is based on my memories of the events described. No doubt, the other people in this story would have their own unique perspectives on what happened. Remember, brains are fallible. I would not swear in a court of law that my account is 100% accurate, although it is true to the best of my knowledge. Quotes of spoken words cannot be totally accurate as I did not tape record any conversations.

I have intentionally not provided names, dates, or exact locations. My purpose is not to get individuals into trouble. It is my intention to draw attention to a very common problem in our health care system: the frequent harm that medical error and mismanagement cause. I consider many of the mistakes that I experienced first-hand, to be largely a result of a flawed system.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope you found it interesting, illuminating, or entertaining in some respect. If so, please pass it along to your friends and family. 

 Sincerely,

Laura Shukla, PT

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