Serial killer nurses

[swamp]

Fascinating article.

www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/crime/2017/07/elizabeth_wettlaufer_canada_s_killer_nurse_and_the_archetype_of_the_health.html

[Phoenix84]

Had no idea this was as common as it was.  The article estimates about 60 people are intentionally killed every year in the U.S by nurses and doctors, and it could be higher. The total "regular" serial killer death count is about 150 a year.

[JustLurkin]

"During the nine-year murder spree, she confessed to her pastor, to a co-worker, to a friend from a support group, and then, finally, to the police."

[msventoux]

Jul 24, 2017 17:54:55 GMT -5 JustLurkin said:

"During the nine-year murder spree, she confessed to her pastor, to a co-worker, to a friend from a support group, and then, finally, to the police."

That was the scariest thing about the article to me. I've read about the serial killers in healthcare thing before. Between that, human error and bureaucratic snafus I don't expect great outcomes from a hospital stay. But I'd hope if someone murdered me while I was in a hospital and essentially shouted it from the rooftops that someone might listen and mention it to the proper authorities.

[Artemis Windsong]

Very interesting.

[Phoenix84]

Jul 24, 2017 18:31:59 GMT -5 msventoux said:

Jul 24, 2017 17:54:55 GMT -5 JustLurkin said:

"During the nine-year murder spree, she confessed to her pastor, to a co-worker, to a friend from a support group, and then, finally, to the police."

That was the scariest thing about the article to me. I've read about the serial killers in healthcare thing before. Between that, human error and bureaucratic snafus I don't expect great outcomes from a hospital stay. But I'd hope if someone murdered me while I was in a hospital and essentially shouted it from the rooftops that someone might listen and mention it to the proper authorities.

I have become more suspicious of hospitals over the last few years. My mom almost died of sepsis because of a mistake made during a surgery and my uncle has had a lot of issues with his open heart surgery.

Between infections by poor procedure, beurcratic incidents, tired and overworked nurses you can't always expect to get better when going to a hospital. I know you can't help it oftentimes, and the vast majority of healthcare professionals are good, but I've learned that you definitely need to be your own advocate if you aren't getting the care you need.  

[Miss Tequila]

Jul 25, 2017 8:38:56 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Jul 24, 2017 18:31:59 GMT -5 msventoux said:

That was the scariest thing about the article to me. I've read about the serial killers in healthcare thing before. Between that, human error and bureaucratic snafus I don't expect great outcomes from a hospital stay. But I'd hope if someone murdered me while I was in a hospital and essentially shouted it from the rooftops that someone might listen and mention it to the proper authorities.

I have become more suspicious of hospitals over the last few years. My mom almost died of sepsis because of a mistake made during a surgery and my uncle has had a lot of issues with his open heart surgery.

Between infections by poor procedure, beurcratic incidents, tired and overworked nurses you can't always expect to get better when going to a hospital. I know you can't help it oftentimes, and the vast majority of healthcare professionals are good, but I've learned that you definitely need to be your own advocate if you aren't getting the care you need.  

A few years ago the daughter of a man that my ex previously worked for died two days after giving birth.  At first I thought blood clot or something like that.  I just recently read about the lawsuit her husband filed and it turns out she had a freaking UTI that they never diagnosed and she wound up dying of sepsis (it caused her organs to fail).  She was only 25 years old and a picture of good health prior to getting pregnant.  She did have a history of UTI and in fact had one not long before delivery.  She had pre-eclampsia and had to deliver early.  I'm not sure what happened but she did wind-up with a hysterectomy and they kept running tests because of her pain...but apparently not one of the doctors on her case tested for a UTI.  To be fair, she has a history of anti-biotic resistant UTIs (all in the article) but the issue was that none of the doctors tested her for it or even tried to treat it.  In fact, one of the doctors on her case admitted she hadn't read her chart and didn't know she had that history...WHAT.THE.FUCK

Her father is extremely wealthy so money was no issue.  And one of the doctors was the same doctor that delivered my two children.  It just shows that bad medical care is not limited to third world countries or even just the poverty stricken in the US.  This was a family that could have afforded the best care and still their daughter died due to complete incompetence. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

In fact, one of the doctors on her case admitted she hadn't read her chart and didn't know she had that history...WHAT.THE.FUCK

I got into it with a nurse because I have a history resistant UTI.  I can call my clinic and they will fill my scrip over the phone.   I told her  I am resistant to macrobid so could you please give me Cipro instead.

She treated me like I was lying.  She told me I am required to take macrobid and if I don't get better in a week I have to come in for tests and then they will give me cipro.

$198 later I had a scrip for Cipro.   The PA looked at me like I was crazy when I told her why I was there.  She goes "It's right here in your records you are resistant".   Yeah I don't think the nurse gave a crap, that would have meant taking the time to actually do her job.

[zibazinski]

I got that when I asked for a script for a mammogram. Told I didn't need one. I actually do because I have the second one not the first one and have had for years due to dense breasts. The first one always comes out needing a second one. My old insurance I had to pay for second one. This new insurance is the same way. I got caught in that once years ago and never again. First I get a call back from some guy from my doctors office. He says get one from my obgyn. Told him I don't have one because I'm not having babies anymore and a family doctor has taken care of all my issues for the past 25 years. Finally I get her PA on the phone, the one I saw the last time which negates the stereotype that Asians and Indians are all brilliant. Explain it to her again since reading my chart would require effort and time and we can't have that ever. Got my script finally.

[MJ2.0]

I think some of those mishaps are related more to the way insurance has created this shitty bureaucracy within the medical field than the medical professionals messing up.