Sunday, October 4, 2015

Trust me I really am a Doctor!!

So remember the woman who had cervical cancer that I operated on?
Well, she was doing so well postoperatively. She met all her post-op goals (urinating, passing gas, eating and walking) by post-op day number 2. Wonderful!!!
Her wound on post-op day number 7 had a little purulent discharge and had a small seroma under neath it so I opened the skin which easily opened. Then for the next 3 days I personally packed and dressed the wound and it was looking so very good.
Then, the husband (who is a nurse by the way) on the third day of dressing changes decided that the wound should be closed and asked the Theater Attendant (O.R. Tech) to close the wound. So this man with an 8th grade education who did a 6 month Theater Attendant class with MSF (Doctors without Borders) waited until I was at Mass early in the morning and took the woman to the Theater (O.R.) and closed the wound with very close and very tight and very deep sutures!!!!
When I arrived after Mass at 8:30 am, one of the clinical officers (like a Nurse Practitioner) informed me that did I know that the Theater attendant had done this?
Of course I was furious!!! I went to see the patient, she was moaning in pain.
To make a LONG and CRAZY story short, the 8th grader/theater attendant felt that I did not know that to make wounds heal you need to close them!!! The husband also felt that  I was wrong and should have re-closed the wound.
I patiently explained to EVERY ONE  involved that when a wound is infected we must open it and then dress it every day and let it heal by secondary intention.
Of course in this case it is difficult to be humble, and kind and compassionate. I felt like screaming did they not know I AM A BOARD CERTIFIED OBSTETRICIAN AND GYNECOLOGIST!!! But I swallowed my pride and calmly tried to convince them to re-open the wound. They refused.  I called the nun Doctor who referred the patient to me as the husband works in her hospital. She stated what can we do? I know what can I do?
The CMMB staff supported me and the government staff also to try to convince them to re-open the wound.
We had a meeting with the Theater attendant and he thanked me for all I that I do to teach him but that I should have not abruptly gone in his "office" and corrected him.
Again I swallowed my pride and hoping to help the patient I explained the science behind wound healing and packing wounds.
He stated next time take him aside because that is not professional to correct him in public, so I explained that I was shocked that he had touched my patient because professional courtesy is to NOT touch another surgeon's patient!!!
So that was Friday.
They refused to let me re-open the wound all weekend.
Today on my walk, a man stopped me to tell me that that woman is NOT doing well, her wound is red and swollen. That she is very sick.
I explained that they refused to follow my advice and went to the 8th grade/OR tech for care. The man said to me, "Why, you are the REAL Doctor?".
I know my friend, I know.
How sad, after working so hard during the surgery and she did so well after for her to die for a STUPID wound infection!!!
I was thinking, maybe I should have screamed and yelled and thrown things, and been rude and maybe this woman will live. At the time, I felt being kind, compassionate and calm would be better, but now I do not know, maybe being rude, loud and uncaring to the 8th grade/theater attendant maybe would have saved the woman.....
I do not know......
Please pray that the Lord gives me patience.
Today is my 6 month anniversary here.
6 more months to go.
We give you thanks Almighty God for this and all your benefits, you who lives and reigns forever and ever, AMEN.


3 comments:

  1. Oh, Rachael. Ouch. I'm sorry. For her-- so hard to know whom to trust. For you-- so hard to know when to fight for the present & when to protect relationships for the future. Love to you.

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  2. Rachael, what a sad, sad story. My heart goes out to you. Please keep us posted--because I am sure you will keep trying.

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  3. Rachael, what a sad, sad story. My heart goes out to you. Please keep us posted--because I am sure you will keep trying.

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