@ cleogin,
i was generally commenting on the article. i used to visit a hepc group online and was appalled at how those frothing clowns would sit and try to argue about blood count numbers that they knew nothing about with the doc. a world renouned liver specialist, mind you, being contradicted by a dumbass who barely graduated high school and is getting 40,000 dollars worth of treatment for free. i stand by my first comment. doc should have slipped them a dog pill..

To Veronica: Thank you so much, for your input. I am DEFINITELY grieving the loss of my Mom, because, for ONE reason, it came as a shock. We were talking and planning things to do on her release from the hospital, and a few days later, she is unresponsive. I did not know at the time, what had happened, and had asked a nurse, "what have you done to my Mother." She refused to answer me and after four times of asking her the same question and panicking, while she just stood there , I finally had to threaten to call 911. She called another nurse in and all they did was yell her name and try to wake her up. After her death, I asked for her records, and THERE were my answers. One day, she was given a med, that was listed as an allergy, and in the same day, she was given a narcotic, half an hour apart, when after the first dose, she was listed as lethargic. The next day two doses of Morphine! All this was done without my knowledge,and behind my back. I didn't have a clue, what had happened so suddenly to her, UNTIL I read her records. I did check with a mal practice attorney, and talk about discrimination! I was told, that at her age, it would be a hard case, because 84 yrs old, is about "life expectancy." So in another words, there is not much help to survive, in the hospitals, if you are of "AGE." What I am trying to say is: The Doctor, and the medical staff, gave her life threatening drugs,( in her case, they were) behind my back and NEVER informed me of any thing. I have gone as far as to question the hospital for answers, and they have refused to answer, which to me, is a form of guilt and cover up.
And to Captain, talking about idiots. YOU, haven't a clue what your talking about in this case. I DO know, about the complications, with the meds, that were given to my Mom. I didn't read it on the internet and the doctor didn't have to "teach me medicine." Common sense, knowing the complications caused by these meds, and knowing my Mother's sensitivity to meds, is ALL, that was needed to know. So kindly MYOB!

docs must get worn out with idiots armed with a stack of records that they havent a clue about and a jawfull of crap they read on the internet and in a frame of mind to argue medicine. docs job isnt to teach medicine to patients. also they arent going to give you a multifaceted diagnosis to go home and worry yourself and your patient to death with. they only disclose whats necessary.

Drs do lie or at least do not always tell the whole story. There are many reasons for this. Sometimes they themselves don't want to admit the truth or dash the patient's hopes. They are really bad about giving a terminal diagnosis and frequently over estimate the length of time a patient may have to live. Is this fair or honest? of course not but most Drs are in the healing business and see loosing a patient as a personal failure. Patients need to be given choices and the time to prepare for death if that is possible and it often is. Time that can be used to put affairs in order, to make peace with others and most importantly time to say their good byes. Unfortunately it is often left to a nurse to answer the question "Am I dying? How long do I have?" having this knowledge often makes the end more peaceful.
To address the ethical side of full disclosure in the article. I can't as there is a pervasive lack of ethics all around us. Everyone is trying to cut corners to survive but fortunately there are still people out there who really care and do the right thing.
For Cleogin. You are in the early stages of grief from the death of your mother and the causes you perceived. Please consult a mal practice lawyer and they will guide you on the way to get at the truth. They probably won't charge for the first consultation. go to someone you know and trust and if necessary they will refer you on to someone they trust. when you are calmer write down everything you personally observed when visiting your mother in the hospital and find a councilor and grief support group. your feelings and anger are perfectly normal but it is important to be able to move on through the grieving stages which are different for everyone. I hope you will continue to let the group know how things are going. your experiences are helpful to others who have or are having similar experienced

I am having a horrible experience from a hospital in Pa. I have contacted patient advocate and every personnal, I can think of there, asking questions about medications, that were given to my Mother, without my knowledge. The medication given, made her lethargic and still more was given until her heart just stopped. The last person I spoke to about it, promised to get me the info on WHY, the meds were given to her and for what reason. She spoke to my Mom's doctor with my questions, and then I receive a call telling me, after talking to the dr. that she was done, he did what he was suppose to do and would not be dealing with me anymore. When I asked her, was she the same lady I talked to the other day, because, she had commpassion and caring until she talked to the Dr. She then told me, that she was not going to listen to my verbal abuse and she was going to hang up and that is what she did, while I was still talking. They know, that I have found something wrong with her care, and that she died of being over medicated. Talk about lying and covering up! I am in alot of distress, on how I lost my Mom and need help, dealing with the lying pathetic people, at this Pa. hospital. Any suggestions?