It appears that during one of my several surgeries in 2006 (five ops in 6 months by 2 separate dr's) someone has removed my left ovary without my permission.
It may be a mute point given that I fell preg after the last surgery and am now pregnant again but I can't help but feel let down, violated and want someone to explain how, why etc.....
Im I over-reacting.
BTW - My OB is very supportive and has had me sign some forms so she can request hospital reports / records to try and work it out for me.
Would you make issue with the doctor responsible or just let it go ??
OMG! That's...beyond awful! I can totally understand you feeling upset and violated. I would definately follow this up. It's no small "slip up". We're talking about one of your most valuable reproductive organs here.
In saying that, this is a very personal thing. Some people may feel violated while others may feel okay as long as they can still conceive. I suppose you can't say unless you're going through the process yourself.
I suppose the most important thing is that you've been able to have children. Still, I really feel for you, Joel's Girl! Keep us updated.
Wow - sorry to hear this has happened. That's pretty major in my opinion that it could've happened if it wasn't meant to.
Personally I would make a song and dance about it because you never know what problems it could cause you down the track (was anything else removed /damaged) and how will the medical profession learn from their mistakes if no one tells them.
I've recently had some major dental work done due to a dentist perforating my tooth in a root canal 5 years ago....so I've ended up paying lots of money for a screw up 5 years ago....so I intend to let him know. I don't want anything out of it other than for him to know he's not very good at root canals and also their 'associations' / governing bodies should know because they are the ones that provide these guys with certification to work. If they don't know the mistakes they make, how can they assess whether they should work.
Yes, you need to get your records from that time and go through them with your OB, who will be able to make sence of some notes etc that you might not understand.
Im so surprised no one told you at the time that they had done that to you
and so now is the question of why did they? Was it a mistake?, was it seen as being most helpful to you? etc Whatever the answer, you still should have been informed at the time and whatever the outcome (which for you has thankfully been pregnancy) I think addressng the issue is right. Im not sure how you go about that, but if your OB is being supportive enough to go through your med records then hopefully they can point you in the right direction of where to go next.
I do think you should wait and see what the med records say first, just so you have some further background. You should be able to request these yourself if you contact the hospital where the surgeries were done and tell them you need your records from that time.
Yes definitely I would be angry and upset! You deserve to know why this happened, and also why you were not consulted. It is wonderful you are pregnant etc, however that is completely irrelevant - that was your ovary!!!
Goodluck sweetie.
I have another scan booked for 29/10 so the OB is looking again to make sure it's not hiding or adhered to anything (like endo tends to make things do). We will hopefully have the hosp records back by them as well as I'll let you know how I get on.
Hi Cindy, it's been a long time! Did they say to you before the op that if need be they would do that? At the time it may have been best to take it there and then if it needed to be taken out rather than doing what they had to do, then get you in again for that kwim? But they should have informed you when you had the op that that's what they had done - I can't image what it must have felt like to find it out several years afterwards. Defiantely get your notes and go over them to see if there is anything in them that will clarify it for you.
I am stunned they did this to you! Like I have said previously I work in the healthcare field and there is NO WAY a surgeon can remove your ovary if you have not given them permission to do so. When you have surgery, every patient has to sign a consent form, now this consent form is INFORMED CONSENT, in otherwords, if you were not advised the complications of the surgery and did not give permission to remove the ovary if necessary then legally the surgeon is not allowed to do so.
Here are some things I would advise you to do,
* Get a copy of your notes and in particular your consent form. You can obtain these things by contacting the hospitaland applying through the freedom of information act. If the hospital refuses to release your notes this is when you need to contact your ombudsman.
* It is important to have a non-biased opinion on your medical notes, ie: not someone who will gloss it over and 110% support the surgeon or someone who is just out for you to sue another person where they are only in it for themselves. A good person who is non-biased to talk to is to look on the NSW Medical Board site, it gives you a ton of information and advice on where to go from here.
* I would be absolutely furious if I was in your position but remember that you need a copy of the consent form you signed and the results of the surgery, what they found etc. If the surgeon told you what he may have to do then unfortunately there is not much you can do. Your medical notes and your consent form in particular is something you definately need to have a look over.
Take care and I wish the very best for you. I am so sorry you have to go through this and you have every right to be upset, angry and feel the emotions that you are experiencing. I am thinking of you.
Thanks Haley, I will def get a copy of the consent form, as my OB is currently requesting the surgical notes. Does the consent need to be specific ? or is the standard hospital admission forms consent enough to remove bits and pieces ?
The consent for you need is the one you co-signed with your surgeon that you consent to him operating on you. Every hospital admission has a consent form for you to consent to treatment however this is different than a surgical consent form. The surgical consent form will however be located along with your medical notes. I hope that helps!
What would you do ?
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