Date of Medical Observation: July 2008

A friend of mine called up to ask for assistance for his sister .

His sister  is a  32-year-old female expectant mother who sought consult at other hospital  for prenatal check up.

The patient allegedly had her self pregnancy test done and confirmed her pregnancy. She had no subjective complaint aside from feeling of bloatedness which her Obstetrician assured that due to early pregnancy.

An ultrasound was subsequently done which to her doctor’s surprise revealed an adnexal mass.

Her Physician formulated the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy and called for an emergency operation to be done at once.

The patient opted to transfer to another hospital due to financial constraints.  However, she was informed that she would be endangered if she would waste a little more time because of the great possibility of rupture of the noted mass. 

She was led to believe than an urgent operation must be done.

The details of the operation was not explained to her, instead she was informed that it would be just like a dilatation and curettage procedure.

Her husband was not informed of her condition as such no consent was given.

They pursued with the operation.

The intra-operative  findings revealed no ectopic pregnancy.

Patient was partly conscious during the operation.

She was able to hear the doctor on a phone call with the consultant that there was no ectopic pregnancy and questioned what should then be written in the operative technique.

Patient was in great dismay of her misfortune and is very much worried of her condition after that operation.

She also worries on how she could pay the hospital bills when she clearly expressed that she was having problems financially.

She had missed a lot of days from work as well just because of a misdiagnosis.

INSIGHTS

Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical)

(Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcement)

We have been taught ever since we took our very  first step here in this institution the composition of patient management process.

A strategically designed  process made easier for us to help us achieved our goal.

This is to come up with..

Live patient

No complications

Satisfied patient

No medico-legal suit

This narration exemplify  an obviously  opposite approach to patient management  yielding likewise an obviously unwanted outcome.

Failure to do a thorough examination before arriving at a specific diagnosis especially in a case requiring any surgical procedure.

Failure to explain to the patient the nature of his/her illness and the procedure intended to be done.

Failure to secure consent from the husband for any procedure having something to do with pregnancy or fertility.

Though they can list  all the reasons to justify their action, I guessed what

                they missed to secure here was the patient satisfaction.

END