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MikeGinnyGOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA


Posted:
I made my first medical error today when I read that a patient was on postoperative day #3 and took out her staples. Then, after a closer look at her chart, I realized she was postop day #2, so I had taken out her staples a day early. Oooooops. Fortunately, the damage is minimal and she'll suffer no long-term sequelae, but there's my first. Let's hope it's my last.

What I did right was 1) I immediately told the nearest resident 2) I owned up to it at rounds in front of the Attending (the highest-ranking doctor) 3) I didn't try to make excuses, I just told it like it was.

So fortunately, it looks like it will all be OK, but I learned a bunch of important lessons today.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura


AnonymousPLATINUM Member


Posted:
Dude, check to make sure you didn't leave your watch in her.

RoziSILVER Member
100 characters max...
2,996 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia


Posted:
I would hate to work in a job where mistakes can be that significant. I admire you for having the toughness to do it.

It was a day for screaming at inanimate objects.

What this calls for is a special mix of psychology and extreme violence...


DomBRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,009 posts
Location: Bristol, UK


Posted:
You mean doctors aren't infallible?!

Hey, it happens. Lucky that your first lesson didn't lead to anything major.

AchluophobiaBRONZE Member
Magical Sock Dancer
255 posts
Location: Newfoundland, Canada


Posted:
A doctor made a mistake with me once.
After having a very large man fall on me I though I had borken my wrist so I was taken to the hospital. The doctor refused to give me an X-ray after being told repatedly, by me and the person with me that they should. I've had my wrist broken twice before and I have some idea of what it feels like. The the doctor tells me that I have a "mild sprain" and sent me away. One week later I go back and have an x-ray done by a diffrent doctor. He gets the x-ray back and finds 3 bones in my wrist are broken. I'm sent off to have a cast put on it and the same doctor who a week before refused too give me an x-ray puts a cast on my arm. 6 weeks later I come back too have it removed and I'm told that it hasn't been 6 weeks. I had the date right since I had a count down until I had it taken off and it was marked on my calender. The doctor had coppied the date down wrong, probably trying to cover her own @$$. Needless to say that I won't be seeing that doctor again.

Sorry to rant. At least you took responsibility for your mistake.

King Of Bongoaddict
522 posts
Location: Berlin


Posted:
At least you didn't leave a set of poi inside them by mistake...

Your life is ending one minute at a time...
So live it.


AdeSILVER Member
Are we there yet?
1,897 posts
Location: australia


Posted:
As frightening an experience as that is lightning, I'm glad to discover, you are, in fact, human

triple wordscoremember
75 posts
Location: London, Uk, in a boring town called Ruislip....


Posted:
Mistakes can be made!

But we all learn from them!

Cant Sleep Or The Clowns Will Get Me!!!!


iopmember
35 posts
Location: London


Posted:
My mate AZ was telling me once about how he was helping in an operation when a medical student trainee person was supposed to take out this woman's vericas (sp) veins, ripped her main nerve out and she can never walk again. That sucks like a dyson!

If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving isn't for you!


CharlesBRONZE Member
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand


Posted:
That sounds to me like the supervising surgeon (Is that the right title, Mike?) was the person who made the mistake.

(assuming itsnot an urban myth).

Do you know what hospital, country and year this happened, Iop?

PS Love the name...

HoP Posting Guidelines
* Is it the Truth?
* Is it Fair to all concerned?
* Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
* Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?


MikeGinnyGOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA


Posted:
Charles, the mistake was mine. Yes, the sheet was wrong, but the sheet also said that she was a vaginal delivery instead of a C-section, which was plainly wrong, so it is ALWAYS my responsibility to check the chart to make sure the dates and procedures are right. I just got lazy. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa.

However, as I said, I immediately told someone, owned up to it, and didn't try to dodge it. We all make mistakes, but what's important is that we handle them well, and I'm proud of myself for having handled it well.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura


MikeGinnyGOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA


Posted:
Iop, I doubt the story is true because no medical student would ever be allowed close enough to a major nerve to damage it.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura


CharlesBRONZE Member
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand


Posted:
Mike...I was talking about the major nerve story above...not your own fortunate mishap.

Fortunate in that mistakes need to be made to learn, its just great that your mistake didn't have too many repercussions for the patient.

HoP Posting Guidelines
* Is it the Truth?
* Is it Fair to all concerned?
* Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
* Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?


DentrassiGOLD Member
ZORT!
3,045 posts
Location: Brisbane, Australia


Posted:
mike, so is work the reason why you are feeling frazzled? do you become non-frazzled when having a break?

"Here kitty kitty...." - Schroedinger.


Pink...?BRONZE Member
Mistress of Pink...Multicoloured
6,140 posts
Location: Over There, United Kingdom


Posted:
Mistakes can happen. At least you learnt from it.

Never pick up a duck in a dungeon...


mechBRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,207 posts
Location: "In your ear", United Kingdom


Posted:
it could b worse, you could have given her a enema aswell!

Step (el-nombrie)


Bender_the_OffenderGOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
hey try not to lose too much sleep matey! if it's of any consolation, the shortage of doctors in Victoria, Australia is so bad that such mishaps are not uncommon in the news...

Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always


KyrianDreamer
4,308 posts
Location: York, England


Posted:


things happen. you could be the doctor who looked at my xrays and said, "nope, nothing broken"

Or the one who told me and kathleen we both had allergies. Or one of the many other doctors i've seen...... *grumble grumble*

love ya :hugs:

no dying.
shinai.

K.

Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive

Shalom VeAhavah

New Hampshire has a point....


PeleBRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA


Posted:
Ooooohhh, don't get me started on med mistakes. I am too familiar with so many.

I think in a way this was really good for you Mike. It goes back to that time=complacency thing, and it seems that this is a perfect wake up call for you. You didn't remove the wrong appendage or organ, and caused no permanent damage, except maybe to your ego.

In the end I think it is great that you owned up to it right away. I think that prolly earned the respect of your peers and supervisors, and helped save a pending career. It's more responsible than I think some attendings I have had have been!

*motherly chastising voice* Just make sure you don't do it again young man!

Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK


MikeGinnyGOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA


Posted:
quote:
Originally posted by Dentrassi:
mike, so is work the reason why you are feeling frazzled? do you become non-frazzled when having a break?

Well, being at work from 5AM to 5PM plus call will do that to you...

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura


DentrassiGOLD Member
ZORT!
3,045 posts
Location: Brisbane, Australia


Posted:
well, make sure you have a frazzle free day soon

take care.

"Here kitty kitty...." - Schroedinger.



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