Interns and Medical Procedures

**missedapeach** · 07-13-2007, 08:38 PM

A friend of mine who has been on psych meds for over 20 years due to a vp shunt placement by UCLA (1986 approx) and was supposed to be temp only, recently had it removed from Thornton Hospital La Jolla. 1 Week later he had a sieizure and I called 9-11. He was taken to Palomar, then tranferred to Hillcrest UCSD (should have been Thornton). They placed him in a room and never administered anything for the seizure nor did they pay attention to the fact it was due to the recent surgery he just had. 3 Days later they were complaining of his mental behavior (off meds because he was in the hospital where he didn't have them) so they placed him on a 72 hr hold without my knowledge or his I believe (I have Durable POA and Healthcare POA). They performed a lumbar puncture without my knowledge and without proper pain meds to him. They did this one more time before having to knock him out to perform. I watched one of the times and couln't stand to watch this person who didn't know what they were doing jam a needle in his lower back. After this was done, they then put him on a 14 day hold without my knowledge, had no room for him and transported him to the VA, where we do not do business. Can they do this. These are just some of the things they did, I have a list of unethical and what sounds illegal treatment.??

**deadlock** · 07-14-2007, 06:44 AM

This is a complex set of circumstances involving a medical emergency; a psychiatric emergency; appropriate transfer (possibly due to terms of coverage); POA; and your observations of diagnositic procedures.

If you believe your friend has a malpractice case, the best person to evaluate that would be the doctor who removed the shunt. Given that person's response you may need to obtain the records for all institutions where he was seen and get the opinion of a medical malpractice attorney.

**missedapeach** · 07-14-2007, 11:55 AM

When I contacted his doctor from Thornton, he said that it sounded ridiculous considering the circumstances and that he contacted the floor charge nurse and "demanded" that they let Mark go home due to his recent surgery and chances of infection. The Hillcrest 8th floor nurses told me they contacted the doctor (the doctor said they did NOT). The Pschyc. who did this "72" and "14" day hold was an intern and called himself a Psychiatrist and the intern. who did the lumbar puncture called herself a "surgeon". They also had another incident where they said Mark tried to leave (he wanted a cigarette and didn't know he couldn't have one) and 5 guards came at him and they tied him to the gerney and wouldn't let him go to the bathroom or drink any water etc. This was done the night I tried to call him and they would not let me speak to him and said he was asleep. His roommate tried to call me and they told him if he did, they would have him arrested ??? Go figure!!

**deadlock** · 07-15-2007, 12:01 PM

If you would be willing to sort out the questions you have about procedures and how they might be considered for malpractice, assault and battery, or negligence I would be glad to try to help you either understand the procedures or the reasons that they might be indicated.

The whole thing sounds bizarre the way you have presented it but to actually look at the events and sort through what happened requires a physician with expertise in neuropsychiatry.

Short of that, please ask for what you would like to be considered as medical mistreatment or a & b the forum might be able to help you.