anyone familiar with medical malpractice?

vulpes macrotis mutica SG

A close friend of mine visited her family doctor in gleneagles somewhere during june because she has frequent nose bleeding due to thin skin wall which have been deteriorating and to the point whereby there is a small hole in the back of her nose. If she sneezes too hard, she'll nose bleed.

So the doctor prescribed some medicine and a nasal spray. My friend finished the prescribed pill and have been using the nasal spray since June.

Problem 1 ->
The doctor didn't tell my friend that the nasal spray must not be used after 3 weeks if not it'll cause an overdose.

Problem 2 ->
The nurse issuing the medicine did not tell my friend that the spray must not be used after 3 weeks of application because she thought the doctor would have told my friend already.

Problem 3 ->
My friend has been using the nasal spray diligently since June.

Problem 4 ->
Today she went to the doctor and the doctor was shocked and said my friend was very heavily overdosed. Side effects are slight nervous breakdown and panic syndrome, which I can slightly testify that she is already suffering from it.

Problem 5 ->
The ordeal caused her a lot of distressed and trauma.

Who's fault would it be? Was it my friend's fault for not asking the doctor and the nurse how long the spray can be used, or were the doctor and nurse negligent in their practice? Is it possible to file a complain, and reach a settlement out of court?

Overall, the spray did help curb the nose bleeding, but it does not justify the ordeal she suffered.

Any objective insight?

Li Ka Shing SG

Does ur friend want to take action?

I think it really depends on ur friend.

Tuatau SG

If your friend wishes to avoid litigation, she could lodge a complaint with the Gleneagles Hospital public relations staff. Contact numbers are available at the website:

http://www.gleneagles.com.sg/contactus.jsp

Should the staff dismiss her complaint as a side-effect of medication overdose and aggravate her condition, she could also lodge a complaint with the Singapore Medical Council:

http://www.smc.gov.sg/html/ComplaintDisciplinary.html

All being said, however, you may wish to ask what your friend expects to achieve from pursuing such course of action. Compensation? Letter of apology? Disciplinary action against the doctor?

To get what she wants, is it really worth the trouble?

vulpes macrotis mutica SG

just the kind of insight i needed.

thank you!

ILPSY SG

Before you guys do anything, please clear up on a few points:

1) Did your friend default on her next visit after she got the medication and nasal spray?

2) All eyedrops and sprays are to be disposed after 1 month of opening. This should be a common knowledge.

3) Did your friend use more than needed?

vulpes macrotis mutica SG

1) nope, there wasn't any follow-up sessions. in fact, she only visited the doctor after her mum's friend went through the same thing and her mum went to the doctor with her.

2) perhaps it is, but in reality nothing is ideal.

3) she followed the instructions the nurse issuing the medicine, so everything she be okay, but the thing is nobody told her she must stop after 3 weeks.

thanks for the feedback. my friend's mum has got her uncle to complain already, so it'll more or less be an end to the issue for us.

if mods see this, please close this thread. thank you Smile

Devil1976 SG

MOD [Topic is closed upon Topic-starter's request.]