Posts by Larry Miller17

gentlemoose62 said:I am sorry you are dealing with this regarding your father. Don't let the uncertainty and constant questioning weigh you down further. Whatever you need to know, whatever is keeping you up at night... go after it. Ask the questions. Be persistent, even if it feels tedious. From my own experience navigating American hospitals, I've learned that you can't just sit back and wait for them to take the initiative. It isn't always about negligence or lack of compassion—sometimes they just don't—but you have to realize that you are fighting for a life here. They aren't God, so there is no need for hostility, but respect doesn't mean being passive. Aggression won't get you results. If you aren't satisfied with the care, think carefully, but remember you always have the option to switch doctors or change hospitals.
In your current situation, if your father was just discharged, most places won't hand over a comprehensive discharge summary immediately; usually, it's just a brief note. That was my experience several times. Later, you eventually get the full, detailed version. However, after his first surgery, I asked the surgeon directly to write a full, detailed report right then because I planned to seek a second opinion abroad, and he did it without any issue.
A colleague of mine also received everything, including the pathology slides to take with her, since they needed them for a second opinion. When you are backed into a corner, there are no excuses; you have every right to demand what they are obligated to provide.

They certainly have all the data, scans, and details regarding the size of the metastases on file, which is vital for his ongoing treatment. I assume your father will be back for a follow-up soon, so look for that window of opportunity to ask everything you need to know.

When we say you have to FIGHT, this level of persistence is part of that fight.

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies...
To clarify, this is my partner's father, but I love him as if he were my own. He had his surgery in a different city, so his ongoing treatment will be handled at a hospital other than the one where the operation took place.
With the whole family under this much stress and so many logistics to manage, nobody had the energy to press the hospital for the records.
We will try calling to request copies of the reports from the doctor, and we'll see where that leads.

Thanks and regards to all.👍

I am asking those experienced 🧐 regarding our hospital systems to weigh in on a question: when you are discharged following surgery and the doctor hands you a discharge summary, wouldn't it be common sense to also receive the critical diagnostic findings related to the disease😕? Specifically, in our case, we are dealing with rectal cancer surgery involving inoperable liver metastases😠 that were identified via imaging just a day before the procedure.

Now, here is the logic of an average person 👋 (rather than a doctor):
given that we now have to face our greatest enemy, 🙂liver metastases, I believe it would be vital to know the initial size of those metastases (as seen on the scans) so that comparisons can be made throughout treatment. Wouldn't that be the only way to know if we are actually moving in the right direction???

Greetings to all...

Greetings, everyone.
Until chaos strikes, we rarely realize just how much compassion actually exists in this world...

Consider yourselves lucky; you've gained another family standing right there in the front lines with you...