I’m speaking from what my own mother went through... she developed sepsis due to total medical neglect at the hospital because they just didn't catch it in time, and she passed away last Friday. I actually posted about this on another thread. So, I’m not trying to be dramatic here, I guess... I'm just speaking from firsthand experience. When she was admitted back in February—before any of those strikes happened—she actually received much better care than he did, even with her being more critical.
I've cleared out my inbox, so feel free to send me a DM.
I know quite a few good doctors myself, too. My mom and I actually had a really terrible run-in with vascular surgery—it happened at the worst possible time, right when things were critical for her survival. Now, there are plenty of great doctors at the Mayo Clinic in other departments, like hematology or nephrology; I never even thought to assume everyone there was bad. But the care for immobile patients? It’s just not good, especially in that vascular surgery unit. I suppose the strike made things worse, but honestly, it felt more like a lack of cooperation between the nurses and the surgeons. Those nurses really should be coordinating daily with the internists regarding medication for the high-acuity patients, but that just doesn't happen because they're so reluctant to write internal referrals, especially for the internists. They might call a neurologist, too, but that wasn't even the priority for my mom. In fact, those surgeons called a neurologist for her on Sunday, probably suspecting a stroke. Even though they knew she had significant bacteria in her urine from the catheter and she was running a fever, I don't know... I truly don't know what they were waiting for to start IV antibiotics. She developed that fever last Sunday, and I spent that entire day pleading with every doctor I could find to just start the antibiotic treatment. There was even an anesthesiologist who happened to pass by who could have helped if he wanted to. I mean, it shouldn't matter that he's from a different department, since they participate in surgeries alongside the surgeons anyway. But even that anesthesiologist just pointed me back toward the on-call surgeon, who didn't seem to take my mom's fever seriously at all, despite how much I begged him. On Monday, they took her for that Brain CT Scan, which ended up being fine. So, they were basically heading in the completely wrong direction, even though her blood work and urine tests were clearly pointing toward a severe bacterial infection that needed immediate treatment.
There were other families who complained about the vascular ward over at Mayo Clinic regarding inadequate care back when my mom was admitted there. I’m honestly not sure how to track those people down, but I really want to connect with them if I can. I feel like they should at least trigger an inspection, just so someone can see the disastrous postoperative care protocols being used on that unit. It seems to me that more vulnerable patients practically don't stand a chance at recovering... because without high-quality nursing and proper medical support, there’s just no way to heal properly.
I mean, how many more people have to die before they finally sign that collective bargaining agreement? It’s just... you can really feel it. People are putting in way less effort than they were at the start of the year, back before all this striking started. Even the most critical patients seemed to have a better shot at recovery back then. The nurses were definitely working harder earlier this year compared to now, during the strike—and even now, when the nursing and tech strike is supposedly over.
Thank you all so much for the kind words and support. I tried calling the white phone line, but it just goes straight to an automated recording—it’s basically broken and doesn't work at all. They just redirect you to 911. I also called the Department of Health and Human Services, and the representative told me there's a formal complaint form on their website that I need to fill out. Honestly, I haven't been able to find that form anywhere. If anyone knows where it's hidden, please let me know. I am definitely going to file it. I guess I'm just wondering if I can proceed without an autopsy. The cause of death was listed as sepsis caused by two different types of bacteria, so... maybe the cause is clear enough even without one.
Based on everything my Mom went through, I want to advise everyone: if you value your life, please stay away from the vascular surgery department at Mount Sinai Hospital. They really ought to shut that place down. It's shameful how inhumanely they treated my dear Mom. She spent her entire career working at the National Institutes of Health helping develop vaccines, and yet this vascular surgeon at Mount Sinai refused her antibiotics. Because of that, she developed sepsis. It’s highly likely she was infected by a vaccine she actually helped create back when she was a microbiologist. It is just a disgrace how they treat people, even colleagues. That surgeon told me I was being dramatic, but Mom was running such a high fever... if he had just given her the antibiotics right then and there, the way I begged him to do today, my dear Mom would still be alive.
Thank you all so much for the support. To those of you who are still fighting... please, just keep pushing. Don't give up. There’s always hope, I truly believe that.
I guess I’m hoping for the same thing. Honestly, the head of vascular surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital is just a complete tyrant—a total dictator. I don't think I've ever met anyone quite that arrogant in my entire life. Before Mom's surgery, he actually spoke to us in this incredibly angry tone, basically demanding to know what we expected from him; he didn't even want to have a real conversation with us. From what I've read about that case involving the violent death by hemorrhaging of the journalist Hrvoje Mateljić, it seems like this man enjoys absolute protection, and nothing ever happens to him no matter what he does. In the Maškarin case out in San Francisco, they at least conducted an investigation, but here, in the Mateljić situation, they immediately dismissed any blame falling on that famous vascular surgeon. In the end, Mom was operated on by a younger surgeon, Franjić, who is honestly the only decent and polite person there. I truly believe if he had happened to be the one on duty last Sunday when Mom's condition worsened, he might have administered an intravenous antibiotic right away, which maybe could have saved her from sepsis and death. Another young doctor acted so unprofessional; he actually told me I was just being dramatic and that Mom could just start her antibiotics on Monday. By then, it was already too late, and she developed sepsis and septic shock. I actually stopped an older anesthesiologist in the hallway of the vascular ward on Sunday to ask her about that antibiotic, since she just happened to be there helping with another patient after some nurses called her over to help Mom with blood work. That anesthesiologist just told me, "Well, I assume she's receiving antibiotics." When I explained she wasn't, she just said she wouldn't get involved and that I should talk to the attending physician instead. The attending surgeon on duty that day took everything far too lightly. I tried explaining to him later that a patient with kidney disease shouldn't receive Ringer's solution because of the potassium content in it. He didn't even know that. But, after I pointed it out, they immediately switched Mom from the Ringer's to a Salt infusion. Then, when I went to visit Mom the next morning, I found her receiving Ringer's solution all over again. When I asked the nurse why, she just said they had run out of the Salt infusion. I mean, if they don't have what Mom specifically needs, it would be better to give her nothing at all rather than something she absolutely shouldn't be getting.
We decided against the autopsy. Dad was strictly against it. According to the paperwork we received today, the cause of death was listed as sepsis. They don't mention anything about his lungs, even though my hematologist told me verbally—the day after he was moved to the hematology ward—that he had severe pneumonia and septic shock caused by a catheter infection. I just don't think an autopsy would uncover anything new at this point. I guess... I just want him to have some peace now. A medical malpractice attorney spoke to me this morning and mentioned that without an autopsy, we might not have much ground to stand on regarding a lawsuit for damages. But, maybe, surely we can still file a formal complaint regarding the conduct of the doctors and nurses over at the vascular surgery unit at Mount Sinai Hospital? I mean, people who are still alive file complaints all the time. I actually called the Department of Health and Human Services, and they said there’s a specific complaint form available on their website. Hopefully, that doesn't require an autopsy to move forward.
The nurses over at the vascular ward in Mount Sinai Hospital were just lazy and completely irresponsible. Honestly, they struggled even with basic tasks like changing a bedridden patient. They even let a draft blow right through the room while they were changing her. My Mom ended up catching pneumonia because she got so chilled, especially since there was no heat running at the time. As for the head nurse? She doesn't actually do anything; she just wanders around the ward. When Mom’s IV started leaking all over the bed, the head nurse refused to help, claiming she’d send two other nurses instead—even though those two were already tied up with another patient. To make matters worse, one of the older nurses actually mocked Mom, making some snide comment about her being a "countess." The surgery itself went fine after she woke up from general anesthesia, but the postoperative care in that vascular unit was non-existent. That’s why she developed sepsis, which really could have been prevented if they had just administered antibiotics in time. They knew about the urinary tract infection from the catheter for several days, so I just don't understand why they didn't give her the antibiotics sooner, before the sepsis set in, before she fell into septic shock and lost consciousness.
I feel like I can finally speak out now. This all happened in the vascular department at Mount Sinai Hospital. It was just pure negligence—total carelessness from the staff. They were administering the wrong medications; they gave my Mom a Ringer's solution infusion, which she absolutely cannot have because of her kidney disease. Apparently, they ran out of Salt IVs, so they just gave her the Ringer's instead, even though it contains potassium, which is dangerous for someone with kidney issues. They knew she had a urinary tract infection, she was struggling to breathe, and her fever hit 38.3, but the surgeon refused to give her antibiotics on Sunday. He actually told me I was being dramatic and said he’d get her the antibiotics on Monday. Then, on Monday morning, I asked a third surgeon, and he told me Mom had already received the antibiotics. He lied to me. A little later, right before Mom was transferred to hematology, another surgeon admitted that she hadn't received any antibiotics at all and that the hematologists would decide on them instead. By the time she was moved to hematology, she was already in critical condition and in sepsis. They started her on an antibiotic via a Medazol infusion there, but it was already too late. The surgical team kept insisting to us that Mom was doing fine. Even their colleagues in hematology were shocked by how bad her condition had become. She passed away in terrible agony, in septic shock, unable to even breathe—she was fighting for every single breath. She lost consciousness. I wouldn't wish a death like that on my worst enemy.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I haven't lost hope—I mean, I visit her twice a day, every single day. She isn't eating anymore because she's not allowed to; everything is being delivered through her IV. The staff is taking good care of her, even though she isn't in the ICU right now. The doctors aren't really around constantly, I guess, and the nurses check in on her room every so often. Dad and I visit her twice a day. If I were allowed, I'd just stay there permanently. I love her so much; she’s truly a part of me. Today, she actually moved her arm while I was sitting there. Her pupils are dilated, though. And she's struggling quite a bit with her breathing. They put in a central line yesterday. Honestly, she seemed a little better yesterday afternoon than she did in the morning when things were looking really grim and she was gasping for air. As far as I know, she's getting Medazol in her IV along with antibiotics. Is that enough to fight off sepsis? I really, really hope she pulls through. She's such a fighter. This whole thing... it just shouldn't have happened. I can't help but feel they should have been more careful in surgery.
Is parsley tea only available at herbal pharmacies? And is it even safe for someone with blood clotting issues who is already taking Martefarin or heparin? Right now, she isn't allowed to take anything by mouth at all. The only thing the nurses give her is water through an IV.
I'm also really worried about the mucus my Mom keeps building up in her throat. Sometimes the nurses have to suction it out using that bulky machine with the two clear tubes. If we need to handle this ourselves later, what should I buy to help suction that mucus? How many times a day does it need to be done? It just keeps coming back, and I'm honestly terrified she might choke because she has such a hard time coughing it up.
I honestly think it all comes down to the individual doctor. I’ve seen some signs posted on the doors of primary care offices stating they aren't allowed to write prescriptions for medications recommended by a private specialist.
I’m just trying to hold it together. I don't even know what to tell you... she’s actually a colleague of hers in the same field. This younger resident over in surgery was being so dismissive about everything on Sunday. He actually told me I was just being dramatic and that we should just wait until Monday for the antibiotics. I honestly can't believe they withheld them from her. She was recovering so nicely, eating well, and now suddenly there's sepsis. She’s been hospitalized the whole time, they've been drawing blood and running all sorts of tests. But they just wouldn't give her the antibiotics in surgery, even though she had a fever on Sunday, was struggling to breathe, and they were even mentioning a possible urinary tract infection. I just knew deep down she needed antibiotics, but they just gave her an injection to bring the fever down and thought that solved the problem. They didn't address the actual cause of the infection at all. They even claimed in surgery that the fever was just from dehydration. She was drinking as much as she could through a straw. It was so obvious to me that they just didn't care about her one bit. That unit is just terrible. I can't believe the things happening there.