Everybody has rights, including patients. Various campaigns aim to improve healthcare literacy and indirectly the awareness on Patient rights and duties. Personally I am not the kind of person immediately deposing a complaint or exercising my rights. I feel like patient rights determine a framework within which all actors can do their thing. Call it a sort of expectation setting within both patient as healthcare professionals can determine what best fits their needs.
Yesterday a rather emotional call reminded me on the need of frameworks within healthcare. My granny, with a rather complex Medical background, got an infarct. Tuesday she had to undergo an ambulatory treatment for which her blood thinners (pills) had to be replaced by injections. Tuesday in the hospital the injection was not proceeded which led to the infarct +/- 24 hours later. Right now after switching hospitals for treatment of the infarct she recovers in the ICU. Ever since the event we have not heard back from the treating physician. This despite the confirmation at the other treatment hospital that it was a Medical Error which caused the infarct. The medical error being the missing injection of blood thinners. Right now it’s hoping that she will be able to move again as this not clear yet.
First and foremost, such things happen. Although I am sad, these things happen. I don’t blame the physician. However I feel like he could have communicated better. Not passing by or explaining events makes me feel like my granny is disrespected. In general good communication is characterised by following:
- Clear & singular
- Timely
- Adapted to cultural and social values
- Correct
For the very first time I am strongly considering to file a complain. Reason? No answers have been given despite serious impact on the patient’s health and there has been no communication apart from nurses. I am torn apart by this as it has a big impact on someone’s career but disrespecting basic information rights of patients is not done…
Coming days we will have to tie the knot. If there’s one thing to be learned here then it is the importance of timely communication and respecting the right for information.
