Medical Advice Needed

[JPS]

Jackie took my son to his doctor last week for a rash on his leg, the doctor came in, glanced at it, and said it was excema and it would clear up in a week, prescribed some medicine, and went on his way.

A few days later we took him back because it was getting worse, the doctor said its going to get worse before it gets better and sent us on our way.

Now it has spread from his leg all the way to his shoulder and its a deep red, so we took him to the ER today, they rushed him to the back, took his vitals and drew blood, come to find out, its progressing quickly into an advanced cellulite infection, they had to give him antibiotics through IV and they asked us why we hadnt brought him in sooner, and we told them his doctor said he'd be alright that it was just excema, and they looked at us funny like they didnt believe us.

Is there anyone we can report that clinic to? Nearly everytime we go there they don't do nothing but glance at whats wrong and instantly throw a diagnosis out, and everytime theyre wrong and we end up having to go to the ER and paying more.

[Jamos]

Re: Medical Advice Needed

Reminds me of the time my sister had a serious urinary infection. We brought her to the doctors several times and eventually the doctor said that it must be in her head or something. Then finally they did what they should have done long ago by testing her urine. Doctors really **** me off sometimes. Hope your kid gets better soon. Give that incompident doc a onetwo punch for me.

[Ryner]

Re: Medical Advice Needed

I'm sure a simple internet search will give you the information you need.

[JPS]

Re: Medical Advice Needed

Well I did search, quite a few different combination of words, but I didnt find any information and thats why I decided to post the question here, hoping someone knew.

Thanks for the suggestion though Ryner

[Jamos]

Re: Medical Advice Needed

So we aren't going to hold the doctor down and beat him?

[JPS]

Re: Medical Advice Needed

How about if I chop him up and mail out body parts to different pavvies so they can enact their own forms of revenge?

I'll send Nixon the head so she can drop a brick on it.

[Karr Lord of Chaos]

Re: Medical Advice Needed

always get a second opinion, dont take one doctors word for something, especially if it appears that they didnt put effort into getting a diagnosis. i understand how difficult it is in the states by doing this, so just move to canada <--sez said that.

as someone mentioned in another recent thread, you really have to treat going to the doctor as a business transaction. since its not a goverment institution, and is governed by profit, you can expect that the doctors will be trying to rack up as much money in as little time as possible which means spending less time diagnosing and more time scheduling patients to come in. if you dislike this doctor so much, since he clearly doesnt seem interested in your health, go and get another doctor (is this possible in the states?).

as a parents id be on top of any situation that is affecting my child. if im paying to see the doctor, then i want to get my moneys worth with him and not a pop and guess diagnosis.

[Magik]

Re: Medical Advice Needed

If he practices medicine within a public or private hospital facility, you should first report the individual doctor to the institution's Chief of Staff or Chief of Medicine.

If the clinic is private practice, or if you feel that the Chief of Staff or Chief of Medicine aren't holding the doctor responsible for this near malpractice, or if you want to report the entire clinic/institution, seek out the State (or City) Board of Medicine. If you live in a larger city, you may have a City Board, otherwise there should be a State Board.

If you really want to hit them hard, also consider writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Who knows, maybe you'll garner support from others who feel the same way.

Edit: Just try to make your complaints objectively (but firmly) and with evidence if possible. If you act all outraged or sensationalist they may be less likely to consider your report. Outrage would only work if you're an investor or celebrity.

[Kirin]

Re: Medical Advice Needed

Will this link help? It's an FAQ about how to go about filing a medical complaint with the American Medical Association.

I really hope your complaint goes through--those guys really need to be punished.

always get a second opinion, dont take one doctors word for something, especially if it appears that they didnt put effort into getting a diagnosis

This also reminds me of a situation I had, although it wasn't nearly as severe as your son's. Misdiagnosed scalp eczema as ringworm (after glancing at it for not even 10 seconds) and gave me a 3 month course of meds that was expensive, did absolutely nothing for me, and had potentially quite dangerous side effects (so says the second dermatologist I saw).

Skin infections can become really threatening really fast. Here's hoping your son fully recovers.

they looked at us funny like they didnt believe us.

I hope that doesn't result in a social worker being called because they think you guys neglected him.