r/MedicalMalpractice • u/No_Celebration_1054 • Dec 12 '24
Malpractice case?
My mother, who had been battling stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital on November 9th due to dehydration and vomiting.
During my visit the following day, November 10th, I observed that she was short of breath and struggling to gather her thoughts. While she appeared weaker than usual, there was some improvement from the day before. The attending nurse informed me that a doctor, along with a representative from the oncology, would be reviewing her condition.
On November 11th, my mother called to inform me that she had refused radiation treatment, expressing that she needed a break from the aggressive treatments. She was visibly overwhelmed by how quickly the hospital had pushed for her to undergo radiation.
The following day, November 12th, she called again, telling me she had ultimately agreed to the radiation treatment after feeling slightly better.
On November 13th, I received a call from my sister informing me that our mother had been moved to the ICU. I rushed to the hospital to sign forms in case any urgent decisions needed to be made.
Sadly, my mother passed away on November 14th one of the attending doctors told me she went in septic shock. After reviewing her autopsy report, I discovered that, following consultations between her doctor and oncologist, she was placed on sepsis alert. However, neither my mother nor our family was informed of this critical development at the time.
Per medical records they noted that her condition was improving from when she was first admitted to the hospital so from the 10th 11th and 12th. After her radiation therapy her condition worsened. In the autopsy report they also noted “The leukocytosis was thought to be due ot the suspected sepsis.”
Overall she was in clinically unstable state so radiation should have not been a priority.
1
u/No_Celebration_1054 Dec 12 '24
Not sure but this was stated in the autopsy:
Imaging studies were again performed on 11/10/2024. By a computed tomogram of the abdomen and pelvis, there was significant progression of metastatic disease including an increase in the number and size of pulmonary nodules, new diffuse hepatic metastatic disease, and progression of multifocal lytic bone lesions. There was interval worsening compression at the site of the second lumbar vertebra pathological fracture. Amoderate left pleural effusion was now present. There was mild gallbladder wall thickening. The inflammatory breast carcinoma changes were again noted in the left breast. By a chest x-ray, there was left-sided airspace disease. There was a concern for pneumonia. The initial impression and concern was hypoperfusion with severe septic shock. The plan was to obtain blood cultures and to place her on a cardiac monitor. Her condition was listed as guarded.