NSAID allergy case the 3rd time!

July 17th, 2008 at 18:24 · Filed Under Blogging, Critiques, Days in My Life, Health, Medical

My dad was admitted to the General Hospital yesterday due to suspecting of food poisoning. He was actually going to the Community Polyclinic at Pantai Peringgit for his routine medical checkup. But he had been having diarrhea since last week and yesterday he began to vomit.

There wasn’t any vacant ward so they put him in the A&E ward. He was transferred to medical ward this morning. When I visited him two hours ago, I saw his eyes were swollen. His eye bags were filled with fluid. I knew he was having allergic reaction and I quickly checked with the nurse.

There were some young doctors there. A female doctor attended to me and my dad to see what’s going on. Her name was Dr. Ng. I told her that my dad was allergic to NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). They prescribed him Aspirin. She said they had stopped giving him aspirin.

This was negligence and I pursued the responsibility with her. I am regarded as some kind of pain-in-the-ass by some people. I could see her facial reaction when I told her that I would pursue this responsibility. She quickly apologized and carefully worked through the documents. I backed off a little when I saw her diligence. I am not totally a pain-in-the-ass after all. I am not totally unreasonable.

She found a remark stating my dad was allergic to two unknown drugs. I told her, when a patient had informed the doctor or the nurse of his unknown allergic, then it would be the normal procedure to go through the patient’s medical history to find out what he was allergic to. Assessment had to be made accordingly if the patient was medically illiterate. The hospital should also immediately contact his family to find out what his allergies.

She apologized again and suggested me to speak to her superior tomorrow morning. She apologized again and I told her it was not her fault because my dad had been admitted at the same hospital with the same allergic reaction. Someone did not do their job well.

He was prescribed NSAID by an A&E doctor at the same general hospital and had mild allergic reaction. This happened in early 2007. In May 2007, the Community Polyclinic at Pantai Peringgit prescribed him Diclofenac Sodium and he had a bad allergic reaction and was admitted to the general hospital at night. I wrote about this here.

Why does this happen again for the 3rd time?

I am going to be someone’s real pain-in-the-ass tomorrow.

Tags: NSAID

Comments

12 Responses to “NSAID allergy case the 3rd time!”

Allison on July 17th, 2008 19:53

You can definitely take legal action against the GH. Under the tort law, the tort of negligence, this case is considered a professional negligence by the doctor because a reasonable person in her field would have avoided such mistake.

In fact, there’s a similar case happened in Malaysia back to 1967, the case of Chin Keow v Government of Malaysia and Another. In this case, an old lady was given a penicillin injection by her doctor and she died an hour later. The doctor was found negligent because he failed to act on information where her medical card did show that she was allergic to penicillin.

If you would like to file the tort of negligence, you need to prove that
1) the doctor owed your father a duty of care
2) the duty was breached
3) your father suffered harm caused by the breach.

Well, apparently, you’ve got all of them.
Adrian Hoe on July 17th, 2008 20:54

Thanks.

I will talk to the medical officer tomorrow morning. See what they have to say about this. Then I will proceed accordingly.
Allison on July 17th, 2008 21:31

Yes, press them hard. Have them to compensate for the damage caused to your father. That’s a serious negligence concerning one’s life and shall not be excused.

Good luck and may your father get well soon.
Zhang Wei on July 17th, 2008 23:19

I am all shocked to read about this negligence. Allergic reaction from drugs is not a small matter. It is a matter of live and death. I agree with Allison to take legal action against the hospital and staff.

I wish your dad all the best. Good luck.

张薇
M on July 17th, 2008 23:37

I hope dad is feeling better and things are sorted out

One word of advice - is Allison an attorney? If not she cannot be giving legal advise. She can ask you to seek legal advice but not give you what would allegedly be considered as legal advice. The practice of law is a serious matter and can come back to haunt you.

I wanted to call mom but realize it is now 11:30 pm your time. She might be asleep and would be stressed out if I call. Tell dad I said hello and I will call as soon as I get back on Saturday morning. I have to leave in about an hour to catch my flight. I will not be bringing my laptop so I cannot make calls to mom tonight or tomorrow because I am flying back at 9:00 pm, on the red eye.
Katy Yong on July 18th, 2008 2:48

Haiz… Malaysia hospital.

I hope your father is fine now. My sympathy to your father’s ordeal and your frustration. Somebody have to take responsibility.
ridzuan on July 18th, 2008 4:27

Hi Adrian,

I am sorry for your father’s experience and I know you are very frustrated. There are more than enough negligence cases in Malaysia medical service. Make someone responsible for the negligence and the suffering incurred to your father.

All the best to your father, your family and your endeavor.

ridzuan

PS: It has been a long time I did not comment in your blog. But I do read your blog from time to time. I will move to Germany end of the year. Right now, I am looking for buyer to dispose of my house in London. My wife and I are busy looking for schools for our children etc, etc…
dragon on July 18th, 2008 5:00

I am sorry to hear your dad has to go through this suffering. Allergy triggered asthma is very dangerous. Your dad can die of asthma just for someone’s negligence. I agree you to file a law suit against the hospital and staff. It is a tort.

In my country, this cannot be tolerated.

Good luck and I wish your dad a speedy recovery.

龙
Adrian Hoe on July 18th, 2008 16:34

Thank you all.

Allison is not a lawyer. I think she just wants to share her knowledge.

I have spoken to the medical officer at the hospital this morning. She was trying to kick the responsibility to my mom and to me when I questioned her why nobody checked my dad’s medical history or called his family.

Apparently, there were many more mistakes at admission other than this negligence.

I will have a thorough discussion with my lawyer next Thursday to study this case. Someone have to be responsible for this.

Again, thank you all for your concerns. I feel that I am not alone.
Allison on July 18th, 2008 17:44

Hello Dr. Hoe,

Thanks for your advice. I am not an attorney. I am a local engineering student that some people might regard as “sh*t” or “d**k h**d”.

I was not giving Adrian legal advice. I was just sharing my law knowledge with him (I’m currently taking a basic law course). What I’ve written is just general.

To tell the truth, my father’s death was also caused by the hospital staff’s negligence. It happened 11 years ago and my family including me were too legally illiterate so we didn’t file the tort.

Therefore I hope Adrian can successfully pursue the liability claims against the hospital and the doctor. Don’t let the parties at fault escape.
Pragmatic Revelations : Two things that annoyed me today on July 18th, 2008 17:46

[...] officer at the general hospital regarding my father’s allergic case. Read about it here and here. Obviously, the medical officer was trying to put a blame on my mom and I. This is a tort and I [...]
Adrian Hoe on July 21st, 2008 23:58

Hi all,

My dad was discharged this afternoon. My mom and I waited at the hospital from morning till noon. I had to walk a distance to pay the bill and to the pharmacy to collect his medication. I took them home for a rest. He was fine when we visited and sent food to them in the evening.

Before leaving the hospital, they got a shot from me. Tell you the story later.

Thank all for your caring.