Am so angry at Inova Fairfax Hospital and Dr. Al-Khouatley

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I didn't expect this to go four pages. Or to elicit such negativity in some posts. I can understand how some can think me whiny if they just can't relate to the pain I experienced or how I could have experienced such pain. But I have sensory issues and feel pain more deeply.

First, to clarify, I had an uneventful and good pg up until the day of the C. I was 39 weeks and baby's heart rate inexplicably went down on that day so they asked me to go to the hospital immediately for the C. I was asked to lie on my left side so as not to put additional stress on baby. Dr. Al-Khouatley said "things will be moving fast." So, yes, I took all these to mean it was an emergency, not simply an unscheduled C.

So does that mean with my particular emergency consideration for my stress level could be completely disregarded? Was time really of the essence to that degree? Well then I could have done without the damn hugs from Dr. Al-Khouatley, the small talk during the surgery about the heritage of my name, her own cultural background or heritage, etc..etc...When I asked THREE times for someone to call my husband on his cell, it would have been nice to not be ignored. And more importantly, when a patient says "STOP what you're doing" the staff has to stop. Patients rights always prevail no matter what the emergency. I repeatedly asked them to stop and use a anesthestic first. It takes 1 minute to give me an anesthetic injection. They chose not to.

I don't know for sure but I think this is not slander but a question of libel right? And truth is an absolute defense. Nothing I said was false.

Sure, stop and let your baby die while waiting for the topical anesthetic to work. Which, by the way, is generally only stoked on the pediatric floors because GROWN UPs do not scream and cry while getting an IV started even if it takes a time or two. Fetal decels are a surgical emergency. Grown ups acting like babies while getting an IV started is not an emergency, just a pain in the ass.

[Anonymous]

OP here. The woman who is calling me a stupid cow and using profanity in addressing me has some other issues. Nobody should get that angry on this kind of post to warrant so much anger. Why so angry?

Are you also the same poster who asked if I was hispanic? No, I'm not, but if you were hispanic would you want someone referring to your entire cultural group as "whiny"? It's just not necessary to be that rude.

Well I'm not sure why some are talking about lawsuits and complaints to the medical board. I never said Al-Khouatley committed negligence or malpractice. I considered complaining to the practice, not anyone else, about her bedside manner, despite the emergency.

At my next appointment I will be asking for more information about the full extent of the emergency so I can determine for myself why they were so callous. I'm enjoying my baby but what would help me to feel better is to have that information because until I know that kind of treatment was necessary I will not go to Inova Fairfax or Perinatal Assoc again

I have had numbing injections in my arm before. They don't take a long time to take effect. And they, they do give it to adults too.

[Anonymous]

OP here. PP, if this post makes you that angry, perhaps you shouldn't be reading it.

For others, I remember the woman who checked the baby's HR at the hospital never said it was a critical emergency, just that the baby's HR was "a little low." I asked how seriously low and if the baby was alright and she said again, "just a little low" and that the baby was doing okay. I waited almost 30 minutes for the nurses to arrive to put the IV in. If it was such a critical emergency where my life or the baby's life was in danger I doubt they'd allow me to wait 30 minutes for an IV. So to me, to not give me the numbing injection seemed callous and unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. PP, if this post makes you that angry, perhaps you shouldn't be reading it.

For others, I remember the woman who checked the baby's HR at the hospital never said it was a critical emergency, just that the baby's HR was "a little low." I asked how seriously low and if the baby was alright and she said again, "just a little low" and that the baby was doing okay. I waited almost 30 minutes for the nurses to arrive to put the IV in. If it was such a critical emergency where my life or the baby's life was in danger I doubt they'd allow me to wait 30 minutes for an IV. So to me, to not give me the numbing injection seemed callous and unnecessary.

You do realize your physician had nothing to do with your difficult IV start, right?
I don't even understand what numbing injection you were wanting. How do you manage every day? Do you fall apart over a bee sting? A stubbed toe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The woman who is calling me a stupid cow and using profanity in addressing me has some other issues. Nobody should get that angry on this kind of post to warrant so much anger. Why so angry?

Are you also the same poster who asked if I was hispanic? No, I'm not, but if you were hispanic would you want someone referring to your entire cultural group as "whiny"? It's just not necessary to be that rude.

Well I'm not sure why some are talking about lawsuits and complaints to the medical board. I never said Al-Khouatley committed negligence or malpractice. I considered complaining to the practice, not anyone else, about her bedside manner, despite the emergency.

At my next appointment I will be asking for more information about the full extent of the emergency so I can determine for myself why they were so callous. I'm enjoying my baby but what would help me to feel better is to have that information because until I know that kind of treatment was necessary I will not go to Inova Fairfax or Perinatal Assoc again

I have had numbing injections in my arm before. They don't take a long time to take effect. And they, they do give it to adults too.

For what? Who gave you a "numbing injection"? Are you talking about lidocaine being injected directly in your nerve? Because that needs to be done by a physician--nurses don't routinely inject medication into people's nerves. It is highly irregular for anyone to get their entire arm numbed for an IV start. It's just a pinprick. So what doctor is supposed to perform this irregular request in the middle of an emergency?

And it takes time for the surgical team to assemble, scrub in, etc before the actual surgery begins. I suggest you stop getting your impressions of how long it should take to start surgery, bedside manner, etc from Grey's Anatomy and ER reruns.

[Anonymous]

Op-again sorry the human race is full of insensitive assholes. Glad to hear you are going to talk to the doctor at your next visit. But don't let these pathetic fools judge you. You are better than all of them and their kids will be working for your child one day.

If anyone else feels like continuing being an asshole, consider for a minute how you would feel if someone was as dismissive at you over something you cared about? Doesn't matter if you agree or disagree with the OP but do you really have to act like such a bitch?

[Anonymous]

Just for clarification, the pp was to the op, not written by the op.

[Anonymous]

Actually I'm hoping someone prints this out and mails it to the OB's office. Should make the post partum visit more interesting.

[Anonymous]

NP here - I have been following this thread with increasing disgust, and suspect the over the top nastiness comes mostly from one poster. At least I hope so, because this board can't possibly be that full of assholes! Although I have noticed in other threads that the anonymity of this forum really brings out the worst in people (supposing they put up a pretty good facade of civility in real life).

FWIW, I got a numbing injection before they put in the IV for my egg retrieval. Obviously, that was not an emergency. But it took all but a few seconds.

OP, I hope you manage to leave this behind you soon. It seems they were insensitive, but it is impossible for anybody here to know how pressing the emergency was. But even if it was pressing - while we all agree that the baby's health is paramount, they should make every effort not to traumatize the mother (and whatever is traumatizing to her - it's not for us to judge). If they don't have time to accommodate your requests, they should have the social skills to explain things to you as they move forward.

[Anonymous]

For all of those who responded cruelly to OP-- have you ever been several days postpartum after a difficult birth experience, getting no more than 2 hours of sleep at a time? Do you not remember what that was like? Recovery, pain, inability to take a crap without crying, the baby's crying, trying to establish breastfeeding or dealing with prepping bottles and changing diapers and burping and rocking with nary a reward from the tiny demanding newborn in your arms, night sweats, hormonal surges, baby blues...

Try a little compassion. The whole idea of "count your blessings and enjoy your newborn" paints this picture that the newborn period is some sunny, rosy idyllic time when everybody is sitting around snuggling a sweet little baby. It wasn't like that for me, and my daughter is the joy of my life. For me, it was leaking breasts, changing sheets, poopy diapers, hospital visits where I had to watch my crying baby get heel pricks repeatedly during the first few days of her life, bloody pads, huge bags under my eyes-- a difficult initiation into parenthood. OP, it is OK if you are having trouble just enjoying this. Some people are understandably upset when people call out certain doctors/midwives/doulas by name on this board, because doing so anonymously seems unfair. But there is no excuse in my mind-- from one woman whose been there postpartum to another-- for responding maliciously and cruelly, anonymously.

[Anonymous]

OP, please excuse the nasty PPs. They have forgotten what it is to be in those last few moments of pregnancy, and then what it is to be newly delivered.

That sounds like callous behavior on the part of the doc. I don't know if it rises to the level of reporting to the State, but I think it's definitely worth a conversation with the practice. Not so much for you, but for other patients going forward. A PP was right; surgery becomes as second nature as making supper for the doc, but not for the patients. I *thought* I had read enough on the subject, but I was unpleasantly surprised by a few things during my c section. Drs should be capable of treating fetal emergencies while still respecting that you are an adult and just as much their patient as your child is. If this starts to color your experience with your baby, do talk to someone about it. It's not worth destroying your first precious weeks with your baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here - I have been following this thread with increasing disgust, and suspect the over the top nastiness comes mostly from one poster. At least I hope so, because this board can't possibly be that full of assholes! Although I have noticed in other threads that the anonymity of this forum really brings out the worst in people (supposing they put up a pretty good facade of civility in real life).

FWIW, I got a numbing injection before they put in the IV for my egg retrieval. Obviously, that was not an emergency. But it took all but a few seconds.

OP, I hope you manage to leave this behind you soon. It seems they were insensitive, but it is impossible for anybody here to know how pressing the emergency was. But even if it was pressing - while we all agree that the baby's health is paramount, they should make every effort not to traumatize the mother (and whatever is traumatizing to her - it's not for us to judge). If they don't have time to accommodate your requests, they should have the social skills to explain things to you as they move forward.

Me too. I'm the one who actually told her early on to file a complaint with the medical board. If something wasn't done right or the patient didn't have informed consent, that would be the reason. But this thread got out of hand in so many respects. I just reported a bunch of the posts because it's truly disgusting to read.

OP perhaps you don't want to go the medical board route and that's fine, but be prepared, doctor's offices never take responsibility for these kind of things, so your inquiry is likely to get you dismissed from the practice, I can almost guarantee it. That's just how doctors are. Too egomaniacal to be questioned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here - I have been following this thread with increasing disgust, and suspect the over the top nastiness comes mostly from one poster. At least I hope so, because this board can't possibly be that full of assholes! Although I have noticed in other threads that the anonymity of this forum really brings out the worst in people (supposing they put up a pretty good facade of civility in real life).

FWIW, I got a numbing injection before they put in the IV for my egg retrieval. Obviously, that was not an emergency. But it took all but a few seconds.

OP, I hope you manage to leave this behind you soon. It seems they were insensitive, but it is impossible for anybody here to know how pressing the emergency was. But even if it was pressing - while we all agree that the baby's health is paramount, they should make every effort not to traumatize the mother (and whatever is traumatizing to her - it's not for us to judge). If they don't have time to accommodate your requests, they should have the social skills to explain things to you as they move forward.

Me too. I'm the one who actually told her early on to file a complaint with the medical board. If something wasn't done right or the patient didn't have informed consent, that would be the reason. But this thread got out of hand in so many respects. I just reported a bunch of the posts because it's truly disgusting to read.

OP perhaps you don't want to go the medical board route and that's fine, but be prepared, doctor's offices never take responsibility for these kind of things, so your inquiry is likely to get you dismissed from the practice, I can almost guarantee it. That's just how doctors are. Too egomaniacal to be questioned.

Where did the physician violate the standard of care? Shooting someone up with lidocaine for an IV start is not normal and not doing so does not violate any standards of care. Likewise, OP herself stated she did not feel the incision so I'm really not sure why she says she was not numb for her C-section. If OP came across as less nutty, high maintenance and whiny she might garner more sympathy. The state medical board is only interested in egregious lapses in standards of care, not stories of entitled complaining over nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here - I have been following this thread with increasing disgust, and suspect the over the top nastiness comes mostly from one poster. At least I hope so, because this board can't possibly be that full of assholes! Although I have noticed in other threads that the anonymity of this forum really brings out the worst in people (supposing they put up a pretty good facade of civility in real life).

FWIW, I got a numbing injection before they put in the IV for my egg retrieval. Obviously, that was not an emergency. But it took all but a few seconds.

OP, I hope you manage to leave this behind you soon. It seems they were insensitive, but it is impossible for anybody here to know how pressing the emergency was. But even if it was pressing - while we all agree that the baby's health is paramount, they should make every effort not to traumatize the mother (and whatever is traumatizing to her - it's not for us to judge). If they don't have time to accommodate your requests, they should have the social skills to explain things to you as they move forward.

Me too. I'm the one who actually told her early on to file a complaint with the medical board. If something wasn't done right or the patient didn't have informed consent, that would be the reason. But this thread got out of hand in so many respects. I just reported a bunch of the posts because it's truly disgusting to read.

OP perhaps you don't want to go the medical board route and that's fine, but be prepared, doctor's offices never take responsibility for these kind of things, so your inquiry is likely to get you dismissed from the practice, I can almost guarantee it. That's just how doctors are. Too egomaniacal to be questioned.

Where did the physician violate the standard of care? Shooting someone up with lidocaine for an IV start is not normal and not doing so does not violate any standards of care. Likewise, OP herself stated she did not feel the incision so I'm really not sure why she says she was not numb for her C-section. If OP came across as less nutty, high maintenance and whiny she might garner more sympathy. The state medical board is only interested in egregious lapses in standards of care, not stories of entitled complaining over nothing.

Thanks for your awesome opinion. If its ok with you, I think it would be better if the op had a discussion with her doctor to review her concerns. Your expert judgment just doesn't really seem valid, especially since you weren't there nor are you a doctor. Btw every iv I've ever gotten has started with a lidocane injection to numb the area. Since you clearly have never had this type of experience than it must not be true right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op-again sorry the human race is full of insensitive assholes. Glad to hear you are going to talk to the doctor at your next visit. But don't let these pathetic fools judge you. You are better than all of them and their kids will be working for your child one day.

If anyone else feels like continuing being an asshole, consider for a minute how you would feel if someone was as dismissive at you over something you cared about? Doesn't matter if you agree or disagree with the OP but do you really have to act like such a bitch?

Possible that the nasty responses may be from mostly one poster but more likely it is from a nurse or nurses or someone close to Dr. Al-Khouatley's group. The poster/posters are getting very defensive regarding the OP voicing her opinion of how things went during her labor and delivery. [code]