Monday, September 27, 2010

Third Year Anniversary Since Being Hysterectomized and Castrated

It seems only fitting that I post today of all days. A summary of the Consent Form, Pathology Report and Surgical/Recovery Room report from my hysterectomy case follow:

CASE SUMMARY:

1)Consent Form
2)Pathology Report
3)Surgical/Recovery Room

1)Please note the surgical consent form included in the hospital record is not signed by me, but by my mother. It should be noted that she had no legal authority to sign my consent form; no power of attorney. There are two obvious issues in regard to the consent form.

First and foremost, all hospitals must include a consent form in the hospital record which has been signed by the "patient". Only non-competent adults must have another adult (with power of attorney) sign or consent for them. Parents must sign for their children. Only in life-threatening emergency situations may physicians make choices for patients. In my case, the operation was elective. There was no emergent situation and nobody other than myself had authority to sign the consent.

The other obvious issue related to the consent form is that the medical record clearly states that a ‘supra cervical hysterectomy’ was to be performed on me. This operation leaves the cervix in place to provide a normal vaginal length, maintain pelvic support, conserve sexual response of the cervix and reduce medical complications such as blood loss from the vaginal cuff. The operation that was performed on me (as confirmed by the pathology report) notes that my cervix was removed. Removal of my cervix was not listed on the consent form. Thus, the operation listed on the medical consent form was not performed.

2)The pathology report is not proper in that it states "third degree prolapse" which cannot be confirmed by the pathologist. This is simply confirmed by the words of Dr. Bradley Busacco. This is an erroneous remark on the pathology report. The report should read Dr. Bradley Busacco "claims" third degree prolapse. The pathology report cannot confirm this finding because my uterus had already been removed.

For the record, the use of third degree prolapse is often used by surgeons in order to obtain payment for hysterectomy when there is no pathology and no indication for hysterectomy. In other words, prolapse is used throughout the medical surgical industry in order to bill for hysterectomy when there is no indication for one. This practice is an intentional abuse known to the industry, but not known to the general public. Hospitals are supposed to review all of these cases under peer review to prevent the abuse of removal of healthy organs for economic gain. Sadly, in the case of hysterectomy, peer review is not taking place.

My pathology report confirms normal functional ovaries were removed; thereby castrating me. The report also confirms that my uterus had small non-pathological fibroid masses. It should be noted that I had no symptoms from those "small" fibroids. The enlarged uterus I was told I had is contraindicated for vaginal removal by many authorities; including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists). None of the report made mention of the abdominal wall prolapse for which I sought medical care from Dr. Bradley Busacco to begin with.

In fact, nothing in the report is consistent with the condition for which I sought treatment. I was needlessly "gutted and castrated", and still. I have abdominal wall prolapse. None of the pathology findings indicated the need for a hysterectomy or removal of my ovaries.

Both the hospital and pathology department have an obligation to peer review surgical cases in which there are obvious issues. My case is one that would certainly fall under routine peer review. The fact that the surgery was to maintain my cervix and my cervix was removed is a clear indication for peer review. Yet, no peer review took place. In fact, Mercy Hospital advised me by letter that I received the surgery I signed for. There's two issues with what Mercy's representative stated in their letter. 1) I didn't sign my consent and 2) a different operation than the one listed on my consent was performed. Visit my web site @ www.hysterectomyconsequences.com to view my medical documents; including my consent form and Mercy's letter.

3)Surgical/Recovery Room: A male representing himself as the anesthesiologist gave me medication in my IV against my pleas to not sedate me even though I told him I had not consented to surgery and was waiting to speak with my doctor. After being knocked out, I was quite literally "kidnapped" and taken to the operating room for an operation I did not desire nor consent to. (My mother, son and fiance all witnessed what happened to me). It should be noted that Mercy Hospital withheld the fact that a nurse, not an M.D., sedated me in all communications since the operation.

When I woke up from surgery, I was in complete terror; knowing that the pain I felt was from the removal of my female organs. The nurse documented my words and reaction which completely reflect the terror of a person having been drugged, assaulted, and battered. The hospital record clearly indicates that I was in severe pain, suicidal from the castration of my body and suffering from severe blood loss. Dr. Bradley Busacco was notified about my condition according to the hospital record. Yet, there is no plan of action documented in the hospital record for the reality that I woke up "gutted" of my female organs. Equally disturbing, there is no record of anyone following up with me after the surgery regarding my emotional and mental state.

The nurse documented my words and also my bleeding condition, but did not follow hospital protocol to inform authorities that a serious incident report must be filed. No incident report is noted in the medical record. Additionally, no response by the surgeon of record, Dr. Bradley Busacco, is found in the recovery notes.

It is beyond difficult to believe that an entire surgical team would carry out such an outrageous assault on an unsuspecting patient. Believe it. It is happening (especially to women) every minute of every day in hospitals across the U.S. I hope what I have posted here will serve as a warning to any woman considering hysterectomy and/or castration.

My whole nightmare experience reminds me of the song "Hotel California". Remember the line "You can check in any time you like but you can never leave." I checked into the hospital and decided that I did not want to have surgery because the nurse tried to force me to consent for a completely different surgery than the one I had previously agreed to. I wanted to leave. I refused to sign the surgical consent form, refused to be sedated, and yet I was drugged against my will and taken to the operating room where I was gutted and castrated.

Every facet of my life changed forever that day. Dr. Bradley Busacco and the surgical team at Mercy Hospital in Cincinnati Ohio decided a future for me that I did not want and still can't face. Please don't allow yourself to be placed in a situation you can't escape from. I will forever regret checking myself into that hospital; forever regret.......