People always have tendencies to commit errors. Even the most elect fall to err. Saints sinned. Engineers may fail to compute the right structural weight and support, chemist may mix wrong solutions, navigators may fail to interpret the right location, drivers may miscalculate their speed and distance from other vehicles – which may cost a life - so with doctors.
Recently was mother had a stroke – July 14, 2008 – with the suggestion of doctors from the Provincial hospital we proceeded to a bigger hospital - a private hospital with a name.We reached the hospital around 12:00 midnight. I do not have comments with the doctors, just that there were at least four doctors, repeating the same questions and physical examinations to my mother, one after another, who was already very tired and stressed with the 4 hours travel. They’re checking their books for conditions that will fit to their initial diagnosis calling their resident doctor or senior doctor, I guess referring the case of my mother to him/her. I bet they have difficulty or just not sure or just making sure not be wrong with their diagnosis for the consideration of the real doctors or for the consultants later.
We have four doctors attending my mother, of course with different specialization, related to stroke and heart conditions. But none of them consider on the wound/cut on my mothers right hand. That was relatively big enough that anyone can notice, especially that there was an elastic bandage wrapped around with a splint on her right arm, and a gauze on the cut. That was the second day, when the doctor even told us to take off the bandage and ask for a dressing from a nurse.
We were discharge last July 19 to recuperate fully in our home. When we went home, she had no paralysis observed - typical paralysis impression of a stroke victim. She can walk. She can eat. The only problem is her speech because of the AF type of stroke (is it right, forgive me of my terminologies). She maintained the medicines prescribed as maintenance.
Last July 25, my sister noticed that my mother had a difficulty in opening her mouth. On the 26th, we consulted another neurologist, as referred by our attending physician at the hospital. The neurologist recommended to be injected with calcium gluconate because apparently she has low calcium based on the medical records taken during her stay at the hospital last week. Yet, day after there was no improvement. The more her looks suggested something was terribly wrong with her. So we brought her to another hospital - a government hospital.
The diagnosis was tetanus- stage III.
Should have been one of the doctors back then look on the possibility of acquiring tetanus from the wound incurred by my mother during her stroke (telling them the cut might be caused by a bolo or a steel pole because nobody really saw what happened), she should not be in her miserable condition now.
The NGT and tracheostomy set up with the ventilator beside are so morbid to look at. Should she have been given with anti-tetanus shot; she should not be attached with those plastic and looking freak. Should she have been given with anti-tetanus shot, she had been spared with this unnecessary stay at the hospital. She should have not undergone tracheotomy. I cannot contain my frustration, but we could do nothing. It happened already.
It so frustrating thinking back that she should not suffer the way she is in now. What is more so frustrating is we can overlook basic concern. It is like that we can reduce the risk of infection by sterilizing our materials, keeping sterile the needles for injection, using alcohol to a wound, etc. But we focus more on something and overlook the basic. Is it not a routinary procedure to consider tetanus infection on a cut?
If you just look in the eyes of my mother as if begging something that I bet, she knew we would not understand, your heart will be wringed with pity. All you can do is assure her that everything will be fine. And just hold her for a time and stay with her. She had undergone the tracheostomy yesterday. As I was told, she was awake already this morning. But she has still spasms.
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