My question involves medical malpractice in the state of: Massachusetts.
Greeting to all reading this. I have a complicated situation and am running out of time to bring my case to court.
I will try to be as quick as possible.
I underwent a LAVH/RSO (Hysterectomy) 9/10/07. Immediately out of the OR upon regaining consciousness I alerted the Post-op staff that there was a horrible pain in my lower right pelvic/abdominal area and I wanted to speak with the surgeon. They told me he was not available and I was then moved to the wrong recovery floor, where none of the staff could answer my questions or assist me properly. I frequently told the staff of this horrible pain and they said to expect that as I had just undergone major surgery. I had several previous surgeries so I felt that this was more than "major surgery effects". Within 12 hours of leaving the OR, they attempted twice to take my pain pump. I demanded to speak with the surgeon and he was not available until morning. The next morning went by and not until that evening did a doctor come talk to me. When I told him that I was having abnormal pain in the lower right area, he said that the surgery was tough due to endometriosis and that my recovery will not be as textbook as other women's typically are.
So... at my post-op appt, the pain was still horrible and I was being denied pain management. They told me that it will heal as my body did. Well, this went on for a year and three months and during that time the original surgeon left the practice and took time off for elbow surgery and then returned to a unassociated practice. During the year and three months I constantly sought help and was denied, I was referred to other doctors and those refers took almost two years to get in the door. On the one year anniversary I had an appointment with the original surgeon and he said that sometimes this happens and he was terribly sorry and if I needed reports from him to other caretakers he would be happy to produce them. That was it.
Well on 12/22/08, I was able to convince the surgeon who replaced him to go in and look for the cause of this pain. The pain over the year and 3 months spread into my lower back and down my right leg and foot. I have frequent numbness and weakness on that side and sex is nothing what it was as the pain that it can produce is horrific in it's own. on 12/22/08, the second surgeon preformed a laperscopy and removed a filshie clip that had been tucked away in the right cul-de-sac during the hysterectomy. It was imbedded into my abdominal wall and had to be torn out and had a strange mucus surrounding the area. The second surgeon denies this would have cause the pain I constantly complained about and says that it would be impossible for the clip to cause any internal damage as they are used for tying tubes daily and it was in my body from the time I had the tubal to the time I underwent the hysterectomy.
I have spoken to a few lawyers who say they think it is a good case them 6 - 9 months later, return my files and say that they can not help. I have not spoke with a lawyer who will even look at all the details or sit down with me and hear what my points are. I have until 10/2010 to file in court and the lawyers keep leaving me hanging. My marriage depleted due to the strain the complications placed upon us, I am now divorced, I am unable to have a normal painless sex life, I have very limited abilities in daily tasks and I have been robbed the ability to have a quality active life with my daughter.
These are my thoughts:
- Inadequate Follow-up care (governing standard of care violated, in relation to follow-up care)
- Negligent performance of hysterectomy (Left filshie clip inside pelvis, requiring 2nd surgery to remove filshie clip which caused permanent femoral and sciatic nerve damage.Right leg and foot weakness and numbness. Paresthesia by tool insertion point.)
- Original surgeon and his office refused/denied requests and need for 2nd surgery for a year and three months. Refused patient medical assistance and proper pain management.
Any thoughts on how I could represent myself or obtain proper counsel?

