What would you do? (medical)

[slkirk22]

On St Patricks day my 7 y/o dd was playing on the swingset at my inlaws house. The swingset is over 20 years old and when she was crossing the monkey bars one of the bars snapped and sliced the inside of her plam open. We took her to the closest urgent care because is was bleeding like crazy and the doctor gave her 8 stitches. Now this is where the problems start. I have never had stitches or seen anyone get stitches so therefore didnt know what to look for but needless to say 2 weeks later when she was supposed to get them out she woke up with her hand extremely red and swollen. I took her to her regular doctor who removed the stitches and proceded to ask questions about when she got them done.
Did the doctor irrigate it before he did the stitches? I said I dont know what you mean but she explained and I said no all he put on it was the orange stuff they put on it right before he stitched it up.
Did he xray it because of what she cut it on? (It was extremely rusty) I said no.
Needless to say she wasnt very happy and he also didnt ask me if she was current on her tetnus shot.
She sent me for an xray and she still had rust and a piece of metal in the wound which is causing the swelling. So next day we go to see an orthopedic surgeon and he wasnt pleased either. Her hand looked horrible by the time we got to his office. So yesterday she had to go into surgery for them to reopen the wound and clean it back out and remove the metal. She had to stay overnight at the hospital and receive IV antibiotics and is on major antibiotics at home. So my question is do I report this doctor or are there certain prcedures he should have followed? I am new to this kind of stuff I was never injured when I was a child and my older dd has never had anything major done to her. Alot of people tell me I should talk to a lawyer because we are going to have major hospital and doctor bills but I am not really an aggressive person when it comes to stuff like that and I feel like they might just tell me its our word against his or something like that.
Just looking for opinions Thanks.

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[pepperpot]

Speak to a lawyer...especially if you are not agressive....let him be aggressive.....

So sorry for your child.....

If nothing else, pursue it for your child and the next one might screw up....

[ilikefree]

I'm like you, not aggressive at all, but in this case I think I would be. Like pepperpot said, let a lawyer be aggressive for you! Good luck & hugs to your daughter. I hope she's feeling better.

[CLARKS4]

Oh wow! Yeah I think the Dr should have cleaned the wound and done a better job than he did. I'm not a lawyer but I would think that since they found metal in her hand 2 weeks later that would be proof enough to show he didnt do his job. I would get a free consult if you can and see what the lawyer says.
Added I hope she is feeling better soon.

[YankeeMary]

I agree, call a lawyer. Your dd shouldn't have to endure all the extra pain and time in healing. And you shouldn't have to endure the extra costs.

[poggles3]

Medically yes at the very least he should have cleaned it prior to stitching it up, thats common practice in all the drs I've ever been too and nursing facilities I've worked for as well. You may also want to find out the info on your states board certification so that you can complain. I'm sure the other dr you saw and surgeon would be more than happy to forward a copy of the records of what they had to do because of what was left in her hand. Every lawyer/dr/judge etc has a review board and there is somewhere you can file a complaint just incase it has happened before this dr may already have a few complaints on him and this could be enough to bring him before a review board. Sorry for your little one.

[taz69]

Talk to a lawyer! Do not let this happen to some other child! So sorry for your daughter's pain and hassle.

[dinosmom]

HUGS to you and your DD!!!!! I would talk to a lawyer.

Yrs ago we had a similar incident and when we saw my DS's pediatrician she HIT THE ROOF and actually reported the other dr herself!

[hblueeyes]

Report the doctor, get a lawyer and contact the hospital. The next patient might not be so lucky.

Cleaning a wound is part of basic first aid. I am sure most, if not all of us here make sure we clean our kids wounds before we apply topicals and put on a band aid. Common sense.

Me

[SLance68]

First I would call the Dept. of Business & Professional regulation for your state and ask them how to file a report about this. I would definitely make sure that his license was tagged and he should at the least pay for the medical work that had to be performed due to his actions. Unfortunately an attorney might not take the case - you would be surprised how many cases are not viable for them to pursue. Either way you need to put everything down in a journal relating to this - put it down by date for your reference and an attorney if you get one to take the case.

With that all said I hope your Daughters hand heals properly now that she has seen a specialist. And for that original Dr. I would personally like to go kick his butt for you.

[hotwheelstx]

I would report him to your state medical board first. Talk to them see what they say. You can ask if this dr. has any complaints against him, has had to make malpractice payments to anyone.

I wouldn't hesitate on calling the medical board. I'd then call a lawyer and see what they have to say. Some will take that kind of case, some won't. It depends on the damage that's already been done. If nothing else I think the dr. should be liable for the infection that set in, other drs. appts., operation that your daughter had. Along with a pi (personal injury) case come pain/suffering, days missed of work, school, how long are you going to be down, will there be anything that might be needed in the future for your daughter's hand, any meds. she'll have to take, now and later on.

There's an entire list of things lawyers go thru before they take this kind of case. BTW-I have been thru a p.i. case 99-01. It's a long and tedious process but if you're willing to stick with it, I'm sure things will work out in your daughter's favor.

I'm sorry your daughter was hurt. I know how scary it had to of been. Good luck to you and your family. Wishing you nothing but the best.