Ex-patient has "friends" @ OHMC - "Get A Life!"
**This reader (bon521@juno.com or Ms. Roni L Leonard) addresses Webmaster's personal story as "Get a Life..."
"I am so sorry to hear about your awful experience at overlake, but you are taking this way to far. I had my beautiful little boy at overlake, and was treated with the best care. My son was treated with the best care. I have been there a couple of times, and each time, the people are nice, and caring, and helpful. I am NOT saying people are not mistreated, but people are mistreated EVERYWHERE. It is a part of life, and you really need to think about moving on, and find some closure."
WEBMASTER REPLIES: Get A Life? This IS my life now, and I saved it, and hope to help others save their own, or a life of their loved one. Since "people are mistreated EVERYWHERE...", we should just "get a life" and move on, Ms. Leonard? I say, in that case Ms. Roni L. Leonard, just roll up the American Constitution and Bill of Right's -- (Ms. Leonard's email is above for reply) -- Let's also just bring back slavery and Jim Crow laws, control a woman's right to choose, ignore the sufferage movement so only white landowners can vote (no women) and lock up all Japanese Americans at Manzanar -- why not burn a cross or two and "ask" all Euroopean Jews to get on a train!
PLEEEAAAASSSSE! The day The Webmaster will roll over and expose her jugular to folks like Ms. Leonard -- a day like that will mark the day the button should be pressed to end it all! This type of outrageous thinking could set civilization back so far, it boggles the mind. Ignorance and fear remain alive and well at Ms. Leonard's house it appears from her writings. Thanks to the stars she has no contemporaries capable of forwarding this backward thought! One humble opinion of a seasoned freedom fighter for justice.
The Webmaster!
Reader finds site Great! (and useful)
Thanks,
Thanks for having this site. Great URL too.
I hope more people will send you true stories; although unfortunate to actually have them be true.
WEBMASTER: "Que Nada!"
OHMC Employee THREATENS Webmaster * Twice not Nice
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IDIOT OF THE WEEK award winner!!
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Subj: OHMC
Date: 2/28/2001 8:35:59 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: casi3@hotmail.com (PATRICIA MCQUEEN) OHMC Respiratory Therapist
To: MedicalErrors@aol.com
E!!
saw your site-you are really sick-need to get a life-should find a new shrink-i remember you-better hope you never have to use our services again-we will remember you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sicko
WEBMASTER REPLIES: Need I say more? Overlake employee threatens to harm me if I need to go back there... imagine if I passed out and was taken there inadvertently by medics? I am 'marked for harm' by PATRICIA MCQUEEN -- RESPIRATORY THERAPY AT OVERLAKE HOSPITAL Email casi3@hotmail.com -- Also sent by Patricia was a bunch of porno spam mail she forwarded to medicalerrors@aol.com -- are you sure you want the asthma treatment now?
The Webmaster
"Go ahead... make my day!"
NUMBER 2 MAIL FROM THIS WACKO --
Subj: You're sick
Date: 3/3/2001 9:16:59 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: CASI2@email.msn.com (Pat McQueen)
To: MedicalErrors@aol.com
you must have way too much time on your hands. why don't you get a life and stop bitching about things you caused yourself. why don't you look up your shrink-maybe he can help you. sick of you
WEBMASTER REPLIES: I have "too much time on my hands?" A few minutes a day on my site saves lives in the name of an unprecedented public health crisis ( 100,000 deaths a year due to medical mistakes are known)-- only gutless freaks with no hope of MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE FUTURE write hate mail.
"Monkeys are superior to men in this; when a monkey looks in the mirror, he sees a monkey." I wonder what Pat McQueen sees in the mirror? I don't want to put monkeys in a bad light. Working in the hospital gives one access to white sheets, doesn't it? Well then, that's something comfortable for Pat to wear around the house, is the hood included?
**We reserve the right to highlight hateful idiots in positions that can harm public health at large.
Bad Judgment? No, just "judgment day. "
Subj: Bad Judgment
Date: 2/25/2001 7:34:53 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: ronk@reflexnet.net (R Krueger)
To: MedicalErrors@aol.com
You know, if you looked at every hospital you would find the same kinds of things go on. Errors are made, I understand this, but you put everyone that is employed at Overlake in the same boat as the people you condemn. I have been a patient at Overlake a number of times and have been treated well. There will always be the ones that should not be in the profession, but please be careful about making the entire hospital look bad. One of the letters on your site makes reference to Herschel Boyd, he did the majority of his surgery at his private office. He did make some mistakes, but he also did a lot of good for the eye community. He developed a lens that is implanted in the eye after cataract surgery, why do you not mention that. You know, MD's are human, they make mistakes just like everyone else. The only difference is that they are working with living beings. Do you have any idea what kind of pressure is involved in caring for someone? There are times that you do everything correct and you still have a bad outcome. It is good that the populous are informed about bad MD's but please be careful and not single only one hospital out as being bad, there are problems that happen at EVERY hospital in the world.
Also, why would someone be apposed to have an HIV test after the health care worker was poked by a dirty needle? These workers put there lives on the line to care for you and others everyday, with very little respect. I would not even hesitate to consent to any test that was needed to make sure that the person taking care of me was not in danger. Also, would you not want to know that your loved ones are not also at risk? Ignorance has caused many deaths.
Sincerely,
Ron
WEBMASTER REPLIES:
Mr. Krueger:
It is unfortunate you did not fully navigate my site -- had you done so, you would have found I have a "Good Doctors" list as well as "Bad Doctors" list, for the reasons you mentioned; not all doctors are bad. But, the ones that saw me at Overlake, were bad, and mean. They will have to face the music for that series of errors and mistreatment I endured. I will certainly post the name of a "Good" doctor if you have something complimentary to say about a particular Overlake physician. Unfortunately, it won't be Herschel Boyd, as too much conflicting "evidence" exists for me to do that on my site. The press thoroughly investigated the reports of his 143 complaints with the State Medical Board; with a trail of legal actions like that, it does appear that he fell below "the standard of care." The American Academy of Opthamology has standards you can verify this fact with. Having had four eye surgeries myself, I wouldn't want my doctor to have over 143 "complaints." What I do on my overlakehospital.COM site is merely provide a place for those patients that HAVE BEEN harmed so they may be heard and vindicated. Overlake Hospital toots their own supremacy horn just fine in their frequent blanket mailings to the community (still to my house despite requests to get off mail lists.) I am only one site in cyberspace providing a "voice" to the wronged so they may hold accountable their afflictor. If Dr. "Feelgood" doesn't want to get on my site... he can treat ALL his patients with respect, try hard for them, and if he missed something, say so immediately so it can be corrected. 90% of patients who have been harmed with an iatrogenic injury hospital caused) would take an apology and an immediate correction. The deception and lies is what leads to lawsuits and pain for the victim. The injured patient shoulders a burden for the social stature of some doctor who chose his personal needs over their well being. THAT IS WRONG!
If your point suggests that medical errors of some doctors should be "overlooked" or excused because they also did some good in the community -- that argument seems a bit far fetched for a number of reasons. We are not talking about getting our oil changed here -- we are talking about brain surgery, cancer, loss of life and dignity of the helpless. Should we silence the ill and condemn their fears and complaints to conceal or hide truth that could be or was responsible for the death or harm to another?
Truth will set us all free. You know, John Wayne Gacy was a clown at children's parties -- rumor has it he was very good with kids. That certainly doesn't negate his heinous killings does it? All is relevant when human life is at stake. If you want to look away while the Oval Office is being misused, great; but, don't expect the rest of us to look away for injustices so egregious, it scares people for life. Lives are being taken and the reason is covered up. I can take a hit, but I won't let my silence cause the death of another. I can't live with that. I WON'T.
As far as HIV tests are concerned. I understand your points. But, your thinking on that matter rose only to a rudimentary level in your response to me. Not to insinuate your ignorance in saying this, but merely to enlighten you on this very intensly personal issue. An HIV test affects far more than a bruise from the needle. Perhaps you are not aware of the incredible stigma that can be associated with HIV test information in a persons file. The same is true for "mental patients". Employers have access to health information and the "the test had to be done/must be guilty" attitude is still quite ubiquitous among insurance companies, employers and social/professional circles. Information is obtained and sold for pennies in this country, and also carelessly disposed of. Should a person risk their job security for a careless nurse? Should people "at risk" be forced to spill their guts for the benefit of a careless nurse knowing that certain information could cost that person EVERYTHING (not my
case, but someone's)? A lot of reasons exist that a person might want to keep HIV status information totally private and secret -- which should be totally respected in EVERY circumstance. This kind of test CANNOT be demanded or coerced for another's benefit. Privacy is the basis of our Constitution. The inviolability of a person's mind and body is the most crucial of our "inalienable" rights we have in this country. That right is the parent of all others and that right is what makes America so great. Accidents happen with needles, this is true. But, how can I be totally sure that needle was FOR me that night and not reused? There was no wrapper on it -- the nurse made the mistake herself. I'd like the nurse tested for MY benefit. I'd like to know if SHE is an HIV risk to ME. Perhaps HER sexual practices would be important for me to know if she slips up with needles regularly. Why should I bear the strain psychologically or pain physically of a test that was for a careless, and dictatorial nurse concerned about her, not me. Why must I choose to use my last viable peripheral vein for a test I don't need? I soon after had to have lines surgically implanted in my heart as my vascular/vein disease went unchecked so long at Overlake -- what about my treatment and diagnostic needs and emergency vein access? I underwent this invasive blood draw for a nurse that DEMANDED and coerced me to give up the blood rather than "ask" if I would and go through all the proper channels to make the test "lawful." I was not informed of other options for the situation: nurse tests herself now and in 3 months, she could take "triple cocktail drugs" as a precaution, she could wait and see, or I could have had some time to get my husband in to read to me the form and assist me in making the choice. Rather than follow any rules, my blood was STOLEN and TAKEN ILLEGALLY for a test that could prove to ostracize someone or cost them everything they have. I was sedated and sleepy unable to understand the situation fully that night. It is taking advantage of a vulnerable person without representation or a sympathetic witness or family to be there for THEM. The results of MY test were withheld from me for two years and the name of the nurse has never been revealed to me despite requests for her name (against the law.) This obstruction of justice cannot be "overlooked", Mr. Krueger. Overlake Hospital is not ABOVE THE LAW! Would I have consented to the HIV test anyway had all been done properly? Probably (if I had not a vascular disease). That isn't the point. You cannot break the law for yourself and justify it later. That is the core issue of this entire HIV test mess. The law.
I am well aware of the "consequences" to my actions on this site Mr. Krueger. In this case, "consequences" from my overlakehospital.COM site might actually include saving some lives. NO ONE has to believe a word I say you know. Not a damn word. Consider me a wacko if you wish. Your prerogative; as I have mine. I just speak the truth about what happened to me -- others tell me about what happened to them -- and we want to be heard and warn others. If you can prove otherwise -- let me know. I wish to the stars I NEVER had to get to this level of intensity. But, I can't walk away from the horror that happened to me at OHMC. I can't let it happen to another person as long as I am alive. I am a young mother, I will do what I have to make it stay that way.
Great change and social advancement come often from the mind and soul of the lone dissenter brave enough to speak against the terrible wrongs by those in powerful and important societal roles. Mankind has moved forward in no other way in history but for doubt dissatisfaction, challenge, disappointment,and the unwillingness to accept the "truths of the time." Once we are totally content with our society, we will begin the process that will cause our own extinction. A downward spiral stemming from total complacency. If we halted the progress of music at the height of Lawrence Welk's career, we'd have no Hendrix, no Beatles, no Rolling Stones, and sadly, not even Eminem. What if we decided to be content with medievil apothecary "potions" for medicine and proclaimed Rasputin the Father of all Medicinal Men... or appoint "The Godfather" as the highest law because they have so much money and power to kill? Thomas Jefferson had some ideas, we make those dreams of freedom a reality by standing up for our rights and dignity every day of our lives. We USE them, or we LOSE them.
You wrongly assume that I have no idea what it takes to care for the sick. You are sadly wrong Mr. Krueger. The sick, who feel dependent and helpless, know all too well what burdens they are to their caregivers. I also know when the burdens of the desperate are not met remotely or even addressed, tragedy happens. Are you aware of what I had to do to survive the Overlake gross chain of errors? Have you any idea what they put me through? Put my kids and husband through? My husband was utterly heroic for keeping our family together, meeting the children's needs so well, and keeping it "all together" for us. He barely slept that first critical year of my illness. I am so very lucky to have such a wonderful man at my side. His greatest gift to me during his Intensive Care of me was the idea that I was not, and never will be a burden to him. I think that is what caring for the sick is all about. If I am ever needed for another, I hope I could make it a little bit better for someone so desperate. I don't need to post my extensive volunteerism resume, but it is long, very, very long. I enjoyed every moment of it. A family trait going back to Concentration Camp liberators on both sides of my family. One of my objectives of my site is to provide a network of "hospital sitters" to be available for people alone in the hospital. Patients need someone on "their side", just in case. A caring hand and presence heals the sick faster than loneliness. I know what it takes to care for the sick, but in no way do hospital workers put their 'lives on the line every day'. I never met a bigger group of Prima Donnas in one place than at OHMC. Right now there are guys shimmying up Banyon trees in the remains of the Amazon Rain Forest, and trapping Kimodo Dragons in the Pacific -- all looking for seeds, berries, roots and lizard blood that could create drugs to cure the incurable. Those guys put THEIR lives on the line every day.
If you take the job -- do the job. If you want to kick some ass, be a prison guard, not a doctor or nurse. Hear my message. It isn't about revenge; it is about life.
Every action does have a reaction. If you don't like what I have to say, stay off my site and get all the medicine you need at Overlake Hospital. I am not going there ever again; other folks have a right to know why they should look at my site (great medical resource too) to be sure their isn't something potentially harmful about their doctor or if he a history of mistreating patients. I went to Overlake Hospital about 30 times for help, not once, not twice or even five times. That kind of refusal to help, or such profound ignorance by so many who should have known better -- is just plain unacceptable. This year, I want to see the 100,000 annual medical error death rate decrease substantially. You are absolutely correct that ignorance causes deaths; almost my own. If sites like mine will keep doctors on the verge of committing a "moral crime" more consciencious or attentive -- I have done my job and maybe saved a life. That is why I do what I do.
Regards and Thank You for Your Comments,
The Webmaster!
More from Ron...
I can sympathize with your suffering, I have also been misdiagnosed and have had several spinal fusions due to my illness. However, I do not hold the medical professional responsible for the problem.
Just from the tone of your response, I can tell that you tend to maybe stretch the truth just a little. Such as, the good MD, all I can find is a tab that states Bad MD and at the bottom one doc is mentioned as being a good one. In no way did I say that because a person does good, the bad should be over looked. What Hershel Boyd did was very unfortunate and wrong. Do I think that he did these things on purpose, no I do not. Was he negligent, yes he probably was, that is probably why he left the country. To compare him to a mass murderer though is uncalled for.
You cast many stones at the people that you feel have harmed you and your family, what about the people that you are now harming with your careless disregard for the entire staff at Overlake Hospital. There are a number of excellent people that work there.
With the HIV test, I again say, would not you want your loved ones to be save from infection. Every time I donate blood, I am tested and it is no big deal. Yes, if the way it was handled is as you say, it could have been dealt with in a better fashion. People in the health care industry are exposed to infectious diseases everyday, both knowingly and unknowingly. I personally have been thrown up on, bled on, defecated on and spit on. I have had to have hepatitis and TB testing due to caring for infected people. In no case did I say haw dare this person do this to me. I was there to help them, not to degrade them.
One suggestion I give to you is to forgive the people that you feel have harmed you, I said forgive, not forget. It is impossible to forget the things that have been done to you, but in order to get past this time in your life, you need to forgive them and yourself.
Take care,
Ron
WEBMASTER REPLIES... SLAM DUNK!
Ron:
I haven't stretched the truth at all. Perhaps you don't KNOW the whole truth. I responded to your letter, not to you. You addressed issues that covered aspects of this site others want to know about. It was a good letter for me to post so I could respond to others by having them read my response to you in the future. I am not sure how you can proclaim I stretch the truth when you have zero knowledge of what happened to me. Did you happen to read the mail that came from an Overlake Hospital Respiratory Therapist that treated me (Pat McQUEEN) there? That is what I am talking about ... the sadistic and hateful demeanor. This person is not qualified to diagnose anything yet she and a number of nurses treated me badly, and some with held drugs from me and would not call the doctor for me when I was in trouble -- this is in their notes even! I am talking about THE LAW here. Overlake broke the LAW. From the responses I get form the public, this kind of thing is happening far too often needlessly. Do you think it is right for Overlake to withhold the name of the nurse that stole my blood? Do I have a right to file a complaint by law against the nurse (yes, I do)? -- which requires KNOWING who she is (the law says we have a right to know who treats us, check RCW's). One curious thing, you don't mention the way a "perceived psychiatric" patient is treated.
Hypothetically ... what if a person IS suffering mental disease? Should they be hustled out of the hospital in their pajamas and have their cries for help ignored? Is this mistreatment appropriate for even a criminal in a PRISON HOSPITAL? Also, know that Overlake DID view me as mentally ill, and mentally ill persons cannot sign HIV consent forms without a guardian for them. Does that strike you odd that Overlake wants it both ways? I am a "mental case" disbelieved at OHMC's opinion, so I can't get any medical help. But, I am sane so they can steal my blood?
I didn't compare Overlake or Dr. Boyd to a serial killer, I used an analogy, not a simile or metaphor to make my point about contrasts in one's behavior. I use dramatic elements in my writing to bring out the edge of an issue. I am a writer, a screen writer to be exact. I use humor, satire, and analogy to illustrate certain issues. My site is important, but I try to make it somewhat entertaining with comedic darkness shadowing across everything I say to appeal to a readers curiosity. Controversial issues are the issues that get on the news, not unanimous opinions. I am gearing this site toward applying political pressure so things can change for the better. I don't think we need to have over 100,000 medical error deaths a year. I just don't. I don't like what I hear others have been through. Suffering that didn't need to happen.
My site is chock full of great web sites to help people get help for themselves. This is so important for me to provide because it is how I saved my own life. Your comparison of a back problem to my illness is not apples to apples. I think it is fairly common knowledge once you have a back problem, you will always have one. Fusions are generally not that helpful. If this problem plagues you still, there is a new procedure being done for disk problems now -- a hot wire is introduced into the disk causing it to shrink way back and little or no incision remains, resulting in instant relief. But, you've had fusions (why undergo 4, didn't you think you should have done your homework?), so it may not work for you now. I keep up on medical knowledge with encyclopedic attention to detail. I have to now. I study the law also relentlessly. Writers research constantly. I can smell the corruption over there at Overlake 10 miles away. I went to Overlake so many times ... and was put in psychiatric without consent BEFORE a single allergy test had been done on me (only 2 weeks into this dramatic illness). That hasty and wrong medical decision caused a cascade of errors and was believed by all the doctors I saw as a matter of professional courtesy, so they didn't check each others work. This cost me months of valuable time that has altered my life (and the lives of my family) forever. If I can find this stuff in Barnes and Noble and On Line to diagnose myself, why didn't they -- the "trained professionals"? What I have is part of the differential for ALL of my presenting symptoms, I even asked to run relevant tests, they wouldn't, I told them what to look for, they refused. So, I began injecting my tongue to buy time to live so I would not choke on my tongue until I got the right answers and the correct help.
I have gotten over things so intense and frightening in my life, you have no idea what I am like or who I am or what I am capable of achieving. Surviving brings things out in you -- tapping strength you had no idea you could wield. I don't walk away from crimes or injustice and do nothing about it. Never have, never will. I think knowing of an injustice and choosing to not act at all is worse than the crime itself. How do you propose I "get over" the permanent damage caused to my vascular system due to Overlake's delay? You do realize my ability to work, care for my kids and live as I should has been seriously compromised, don't you? Should I walk away from a lawsuit that could help provide the medical resources I will need for the rest of my life and go bankrupt trying to pay for care that I should have never needed due to a runaway disease going unchecked? I think I am justified in this lawsuit. I didn't slip on a Slurpee at 7 11 and sue them, or spill coffee on my lap at McDonald's and sue them. I was tortured and ignored while BEGGING for help from many, only to be forced to live a nightmare of pain and confusion for a full year.
I am channeling my energy on this topic for the greater good, public health at large. As I said, if you have a "good doctor" story, I'll post it. I'll even add the word "good" to the button OK? Will that help? I have two doctors on there incidentally, not one. They were mine. Interestingly, no one has sent me any more praise on Overlake doctors... a telling sign to me. Good doctor listing goes beyond what my primary objective is, but you certainly can start your own website about "good" doctors. When I find them, I keep them. If I hear about them, I'll post them.
Some pain never lessens. We go on with what we are left with, find strength we didn't know we had -- that is what I am doing and have always done after my tragedies. It is how we use the law and our voice that makes change in the world. Lawsuits such as Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board of Education and the Scopes monkey trial changed America forever, for the better. Rosa Parks refused to be mistreated on a bus for who she is -- I refuse to be treated badly in a hospital for who I am -- who we all are -- just people that need help and look to those that took the oath of "first do no harm." I just want to make medicine safer for ALL people, everywhere. For the few that have called or written to me for help -- the information on medical research I forward for free at my expense -- has been credited for saving a few lives. That is the best medicine I could ever get (besides my family's love for me).
Again, your comments are appreciated. If you work at Overlake, raise the bar for the patient care OK? And remember, the right to Free Speech is guaranteed to all Americans, even you.
Elizabeth, Webmaster
No place like a Home Page... The Road to WSCP!
Just wondering if there's a site directed at this place. I could easily make a few comments towards treatment I received there.
more power to you...
WEBMASTER REPLIES:
YES! I am still working on the "Washington State Center for Patients," but that site isn't fully developed yet. If you send me your information about your Swedish experience, I will post it on the WSCP site soon. That site is going to cover every hospital in the state of Washington. I'm getting there. But I will keep your story for print when I am through. Thanks for the inquiry. I hope your health is better now.
Elizabeth, Webmaster
