Coming soon to a hospital near you

[Ninja]

I thought Ruby might have gotten tired of being an apologist for the Canadian health care system. Here you go Ruby, don't get dizzy when you start spinning:

Mother forced to give birth alone in toilet of 'flagship' NHS hospital

A young mother had to deliver her own baby in the lavatory of a flagship hospital because there were no trained midwives available.

Surveyor Catherine Brown had made the agonising decision to undergo a chemically-induced abortion after being told her 18-week pregnancy was risking her life.

But when the time came to give birth she was on an ear, nose and throat ward and had only her mother to help her through the ordeal. Her premature son Edward died in her arms minutes later.

The traumatised mother-of-one said: "I just howled and howled. I remember sitting there looking at him and thinking, 'What do I do next?'. I just sat there on the toilet looking at my dead baby.

"It was dreadful - a terrible nightmare. Then I started crying my eyes out and repeating, 'I'm sorry baby, I'm so sorry'. I still can't believe the hospital had no trained staff who could help me."

To compound Miss Brown's agony, the body of her child was almost discarded with hospital waste.

Her MP has called for an independent review of what he called "one of the most harrowing medical cases I have ever had to deal with".

The catalogue of errors unfolded at the £238million Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex, which opened last December.

Eleven weeks into her pregnancy, Miss Brown, 30, started suffering abdominal pains. She was told she was suffering from a urinary infection which would not affect her pregnancy. But on the evening of February 21 she started bleeding and was rushed into hospital.

Her condition was stabilised with intravenous antibiotics and in the early hours of the following morning she was moved to a mixed-sex ear, nose and throat ward where a bed was available. She was placed in a doorless annexe of the ward and told to expect a scan in the morning.

By 5pm that evening she had still not had a scan. The procedure was only arranged at 7pm after her mother, Sheila Keeling, 51, threatened to make an official complaint.

Doctors discovered there was no amniotic fluid around the baby, meaning his chances of survival were minimal.

Miss Brown was told her own life was threatened by her condition and, following a consultant's advice, she took the devastating decision to undergo a chemically-induced abortion late that evening, after which she was moved into a private room.

At 4am on the following morning she went into labour but complained she had to wait an hour for gas and air to help with the pain.

With no professional help available, she decided to go to her en suite bathroom and stand over the toilet, which had a disabled bar for support, because she had given birth to her son, 18-month-old Matthew, in an upright position.

Her mother spoke of her fears that she was going to lose her daughter as well as her grandson, because she was bleeding so heavily.

"I was running around frantically trying to find gas and air for her and pleaded with nurses, who seemed very matter of fact, to assist," she said.

"The staff I did find told me they did not have the training to help. Catherine was left to deliver the baby alone with just me for help before cleaning herself up and going back to bed. It was horrific."

But their trauma was still not over. Miss Brown said staff almost took Edward's remains away for disposal despite her informing the hospital she wanted to hold a funeral.

"They didn't even record the details of Edward's birth. But he did exist. And more than that, he was a very special little boy.

"Hopefully he has made sure that other families won't have to go through what we did. We'll never forget him."

Tests later revealed Miss Brown had septicaemia, possibly caused by the placenta failing to implant properly.

Miss Brown, who lives in Hornchurch and has split with Edward and Matthew's father, said the mental and physical toll of her experience meant she had to stop work as a utility surveyor and is only now close to recovering.

Fighting back tears, her mother said: "It was really hard watching my daughter go through that. No one was there to reassure us and make us think they knew what they were doing."

Miss Brown's MP, Conservative-James Brokenshire, said: 'The catalogue of errors and blunders is quite disturbing. There appear to have been systemic issues and potentially issues about individual members of staff.

"While changes have been made by the hospital it is such a horrific story I want everything to be closely scrutinised.

"This has to be one of the most harrowing medical cases I have ever had to deal with.

"Catherine almost died and she later discovered the baby had nearly been disposed of with medical-waste."

Queen's Hospital was opened at the end of last year, taking over maternity services from Oldchurch Hospital in Romford.

Women more than 20 weeks pregnant who experience complications are seen by A&E and sent to the maternity unit if necessary.

Those under 20 weeks also go through A&E but are referred to gynaecology if problems continue.

However, there was not a dedicated gynaecology unit when Miss Brown was admitted, meaning patients were sent to a ward where a bed was available. The Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital NHS Trust offered its "sincere condolences" to Miss Brown.

A spokesman said: "We have now established a separate gynaecological A&E service, staffed by gynaecological, medical and nursing staff with access to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit.

"From the end of this month, there will be a dedicated gynaecological ward, with the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit situated within it. This will ensure dedicated and appropriate care."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...=475941&in_page_id=1774&ICO=HEALTH&ICL=TOPART

Folks, this is what Liberalism brings us. Liberalism is a plague that befalls nations and condemns them to doom. It is a threat to our way of life and to our health. We must NEVER let this happen here. This is a crime against humanity. ANYONE who has ever advocated socialized medicine is responsible for this atrocity.

 

[Diuretic]

Now you need to explain how you get from this terrible incident to your statement:

Folks, this is what Liberalism brings us. Liberalism is a plague that befalls nations and condemns them to doom. It is a threat to our way of life and to our health. We must NEVER let this happen here. This is a crime against humanity. ANYONE who has ever advocated socialized medicine is responsible for this atrocity.

Any ideas?

 

[actsnoblemartin]

your 100% right, F Canada, and their anti-common sense/ anti=capitalist approach.

God forbid, we have individual choice, just let the government own you and take all you money, make you wait forever, then give you shitty service.

I thought Ruby might have gotten tired of being an apologist for the Canadian health care system. Here you go Ruby, don't get dizzy when you start spinning:



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...=475941&in_page_id=1774&ICO=HEALTH&ICL=TOPART

Folks, this is what Liberalism brings us. Liberalism is a plague that befalls nations and condemns them to doom. It is a threat to our way of life and to our health. We must NEVER let this happen here. This is a crime against humanity. ANYONE who has ever advocated socialized medicine is responsible for this atrocity.

 

[Diuretic]

This is in the UK actsnoblemartin. Canada (and the UK) have pro-capitalist governments.

It is a terrible event. It should be investigated and whoever is responsible - and I'm including the British government in this - should be hammered. And this systemic failure should not be allowed to happen again.

 

[ReillyT]

From ABC news

Woman's Death in L.A. Hospital Remains a Mystery
Families of Edith Rodriquez and Other Alleged Victims Speak Out

The case of Edith Rodriguez, the 43-year-old mother of three who collapsed in the emergency room of Los Angeles' Martin Luther King Jr. Harbor Hospital in May and died after not receiving help, has raised questions about the quality of hospital care and left a family grieving.

On "Good Morning America" today, Frank Casco, the attorney for Rodriguez's three children and four grandchildren, said what happened in the emergency room was "a mystery," but Casco says the 911 calls and security camera video proves that many people saw Rodriguez suffering and that no one offered help.

"She was lying in the fetal position crying and no one would help her," Casco said. "The security guards were on notice that she was laying there. The police were on notice that she was laying there. The hospital staff was on notice she was laying there."

Casco also said the police officers in the emergency room that morning were more interested in checking out Rodriquez for a possible parole violation, then making sure she got help.

And other families are now speaking out with allegations that their loved ones died of neglect while in the King-Harbor ER.

In March 2003, 20-year-old Oluchi Oliver waited hours to be admitted to the hospital with crippling stomach pains, according to his family. After 10 hours, he collapsed dead on the floor. No one noticed, his father, Akilah Oliver, said.

"It's always unimaginable when a child dies, but for him to die like this, as if he were invisible. … It's really tragic and it's really unimaginable," Akilah Oliver said.

Last week, federal inspectors declared that patients at King-Harbor were in "immediate jeopardy" of harm or death and gave the hospital 23 days to correct procedures or lose certification. It was the fourth time in less than four years that the hospital had received the warning.

Now, if I were an ass, and wanted to wildly extrapolate from individual incidents in order to discredit an entire system for the provision of health care, and (as a bonus) an entire political ideology, I might write something like this:

"Folks, this is what Conservatism brings us. Conservatism is a plague that befalls nations and condemns them to doom. It is a threat to our way of life and to our health. We must NEVER let this happen here. This is a crime against humanity. ANYONE who has ever advocated privatised medicine is responsible for this atrocity."

Of course, if I were to do this, I would hope that most people would just laugh me off, because I could clearly not be taken seriously.

 

[Ninja]

You're a libtard. To you, this is a heartwarming story, and a healthy newborn baby is a tragedy.

 

[Ruby]

Now dont let the this surprise you but in america we have plenty of medical horror stories. Each and every one should get attention and each and every one should make us pinpoint problems and fix them, in some cases better oversight is needed.

I dont see this as an indictment of universal health care systems...I see this as a problem with how it was handled and this kind of thing can and does happen in the american system as well.

BTW, why did you use a UK story to bash Canadas system?

 

[ReillyT]

You're a libtard. To you, this is a heartwarming story, and a healthy newborn baby is a tragedy.

Ouch. Your fantastic rhetorical skills have just hurt my feelings. Alas, my insurance will not cover a doctor's visit to get my boo-boo looked at.

Otherwise, you are exactly right. We liberals rejoice at the death of every newborn, and the elderly, and left-handed people. You are so astute.

 

[Ninja]

Um, where did I bash Canada's system, Ruby?

I posted this as a favor to you, cuz I'm just a swell guy

I thought you might have grown tired of apoligizing for the Canadian system's shortcomings, and might have appreciated the opportunity to defend another country's failed health care system.

 

[Ninja]

Alas, my insurance will not cover a doctor's visit to get my boo-boo looked at.

I had heard that Jamba Juice employees have very bad health care coverage. Didn't know it was true, though

 

[ReillyT]

I had heard that Jamba Juice employees have very bad health care coverage. Didn't know it was true, though

Oh, the wit. You kill me. You really do.

Actually, I have heard that Jamba Juice employees receive generally good benefits.

 

[Ninja]

Oh, the wit. You kill me. You really do.

Actually, I have heard that Jamba Juice employees receive generally good benefits.

I'll take a Citrus Squeeze with an immunity boost. Pronto!!!!!!!

 

[ReillyT]

I'll take a Citrus Squeeze with an immunity boost. Pronto!!!!!!!

I would never have had you pegged as an elitist, looking down on a private enterprise and its employees. Shame on you.

 

[Ruby]

Um, where did I bash Canada's system, Ruby?

I posted this as a favor to you, cuz I'm just a swell guy

I thought you might have grown tired of apoligizing for the Canadian system's shortcomings, and might have appreciated the opportunity to defend another country's failed health care system.

You said it was an article to combat my apologist stance of canadian medicine...sounds like you are trying to show that canadas system is failed...how does an article about a medical horror story in the UK sopposed to do that?

Next, I dont apologize for the Canadian health system, It dosent need an apology at all. Its a good system with its flaws, but a good system nonetheless.

The UK nor Canada have a failed system and the fact that they outperform the US in many areas should help you realize that. Neither are perfect systems or without flaws but that fact dosent make them "failed" systems by any means.

 

[Ninja]

I would never have had you pegged as an elitist, looking down on a private enterprise and its employees. Shame on you.

Who said I was looking down on Jamba Juice employees? That fact that you interpreted my posts as a dig says a lot about your deep-rooted hatred towards "those people" who work in the food industry. No, not many of them can afford subscriptions to The Nation and Priuses and biodynamic wines, but they are good people. The work hard and don't deserve to have limousine liberals demonizing and denigrating them. They are the fuel that powers America's economic engine and deserve respect, not liberal condescension. Shame on YOU!

 

[ReillyT]

Who said I was looking down on Jamba Juice employees? That fact that you interpreted my posts as a dig says a lot about your deep-rooted hatred towards "those people" who work in the food industry. No, not many of them can afford subscriptions to The Nation and Priuses and biodynamic wines, but they are good people. The work hard and don't deserve to have limousine liberals demonizing and denigrating them. They are the fuel that powers America's economic engine and deserve respect, not liberal condescension. Shame on YOU!

My god, you are so sad. Are you now claiming that it was never your intent to insult me by referring to me as a Jamba Juice employee?

Really, what was the point of that comment then? How should I have interpreted your witty foray?

 

[Bullypulpit]

You're a libtard. To you, this is a heartwarming story, and a healthy newborn baby is a tragedy.

The fetus, had it been healthy, would have survived <i>ex utero</i>. It is not uncommon for a woman with an infection (septicemia) to have a spontaneous abortion.

Your use of a single story to discredit an entire health system is intellectually dishonest, but that's the right wing's stock-in-trade. As someone who works in the US health care system, I can tell you that it is most definitely NOT the finest in the world. Health care as a for profit enterprise is ruinous to the system in terms of the toll it takes on both those who work in it and those who need its services.

So before you go blowing shit about how wonderful the US health care system is, get your facts straight and learn a little basic science. Oh gosh...I forgot...Facts and science just stand in the way of the right wing-nut social and political agenda. Never mind.

 

[ReillyT]

Who said I was looking down on Jamba Juice employees? That fact that you interpreted my posts as a dig says a lot about your deep-rooted hatred towards "those people" who work in the food industry. No, not many of them can afford subscriptions to The Nation and Priuses and biodynamic wines, but they are good people. The work hard and don't deserve to have limousine liberals demonizing and denigrating them. They are the fuel that powers America's economic engine and deserve respect, not liberal condescension. Shame on YOU!

Also, purely as a matter of curiousity, why do you place quotes around "those people?" Why not just say "people?"

 

[Ninja]

You said it was an article to combat my apologist stance of canadian medicine...sounds like you are trying to show that canadas system is failed...how does an article about a medical horror story in the UK sopposed to do that?

Next, I dont apologize for the Canadian health system, It dosent need an apology at all. Its a good system with its flaws, but a good system nonetheless.

The UK nor Canada have a failed system and the fact that they outperform the US in many areas should help you realize that. Neither are perfect systems or without flaws but that fact dosent make them "failed" systems by any means.

I posted an article from at UK about an atrocity that occured at the NHS' "flagship hospital." This thread was not meant to be a discussion of the Canadian system - there's another one of those going on right now in this very sub-forum. What about this do you not understand?

 

[Bullypulpit]

Now you need to explain how you get from this terrible incident to your statement:



Any ideas?

He pulled it from the deepest nether regions of his arse, right up there next to his head.