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JUNE 14, 2005
Boston….. Joanne Brindley wants to hear two little words from an anesthesiologist at a Boston area hospital: “I’m sorry.” However, the anesthesiologist has refused to apologize even after the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine issued a Letter of Concern over the incident and Ms. Brindley’s state representative wrote a letter to the hospital president asking for the apology.
“We’re sharing Joanne’s story with the Boston and national media because it typifies what most people want from doctors and hospitals after bad outcomes and adverse events. Despite the popular notion that every patient is a potential plaintiff, most people are like Joanne in that they want their doctors to be honest, contrite, and good communicators,” said Doug Wojcieszak, spokesperson for The Sorry Works! Coalition. “Lawsuits are the last thing on their mind, and they only pursue this option after hospitals and doctors abandon them by refusing to communicate and apologize.”
Joanne Brindley was scheduled for a mastectomy with local anesthesia on May 13, 2004. Although a local anesthesia is unusual for this type of operation, Joanne and her surgeon agreed to this approach in advance of the operation. However, shortly before the operation, the anesthesiologist introduced herself to Joanne and informed Joanne that she and her assistant were present to provide anesthesia during the surgery. To which Joanne responded that no, she had requested a local. To which the anesthesiologist replied that no, Joanne, was going to sleep. Then it allegedly got ugly.
The anesthesiologist allegedly lost her temper, stomped around the holding room screaming for Joanne’s surgeon, said the whole ordeal was a “waste” of her time, and then got into a heated discussion with Joanne’s surgeon in earshot of Joanne.
“Here I was scared, alone, and about to undergo a mastectomy, which is hard enough, but then I have to deal with this anesthesiologist screaming that I am a ‘waste’ of her time. Words mean things. It brought me to tears. Granted, my procedure was unusual and she may have been surprised, but that doesn’t give her a right to scream, rant, and rave in my presence and insult me,” said Joanne Brindley.
A different anesthesiologist handled the procedure and the surgery was completed without full anesthesia; however, Joanne couldn’t let the incident go.
“The doctor was abusive, rude, and unprofessional. I wanted an apology and wanted her to change her behavior so no other patient would have to endure this type of conduct. But she has refused to apologize, and, in fact, she completely denies the incident ever happened,” said Brindley.
Joanne complained to the hospital, the state disciplinary board, and her state representative. The state disciplinary board issued a Letter of Concern to the anesthesiologist, and Joanne’ state representative (Rep. Thomas P. Kennedy) wrote a letter asking the hospital president for the doctor to apologize for her behavior. Rep. Kennedy’s letter also complimented Joanne for not pursuing litigation over the matter.
The hospital president responded by saying the state disciplinary board had looked into the matter, and the chair of the anesthesiology department apologized for an “unpleasant experience,” but no apology from the anesthesiologist.
“I just want her to apologize. I just want her to say, ‘I’m sorry’ and understand how her words hurt so she doesn’t do it again. That’s all I want. That’s all most patients and families want. We don’t expect doctors to be perfect - they’re human after all. But doctors need to be accountable for their actions, and own up to mistakes. It’s the only way the health care system can improve,” said Brindley.
Sorry Works! spokesperson Doug Wojcieszak is urging the hospital and the anesthesiologist to reconsider their position in this case.
“Massachusetts has a law on the books allowing doctors to apologize without it being used against them in court, and Joanne Brindley isn’t interested in litigation anyway. She simply wants an apology. She wants accountability and justice. This is what most patients and families want, and when doctors don’t provide it patients and families are forced to pursue litigation,” said Wojcieszak.
“Doctors need to understand that most patients are like Joanne, in that they don’t want to file a lawsuit - they simply want honesty and ‘I’m sorry’ when things don’t go as expected,” concluded Wojcieszak
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