# "Anesthesiologist trashes sedated patient" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 24, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403 "2015-06-24T22:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/21 "2015-06-25T03:10:28Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I can only surmise that the jury was just so shocked they gave him a pile of cash because they felt bad for the guy.) Piles of cash seem like a very appropriate award in this situation.šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/22 "2015-06-25T03:12:20Z")
**Mr. Nylock** : Okay, that at least makes more sense than anything Iā€™ve heard or could think of so far. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/23 "2015-06-25T03:15:59Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Piles of cash seem like a very appropriate award in this situation.šŸ˜‰ :smack: šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/24 "2015-06-25T03:38:47Z")
I wonder how many other patients these bastards have fraudulently diagnosed with illnesses they do not have? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/25 "2015-06-25T03:45:41Z")
The article I saw mentioned that there were two or three ā€œ3rd partiesā€ present in the room for at least part of the procedure, although it wasnā€™t at all clear who they were or what business they had being there, and that some of the nasty remarks were made in their presence. Thus, the remarks were ā€œpublishedā€, that is, made to an audience 1 or more people who didnā€™t have direct business knowing anything about it. That is commonly the legal prerequisite for slander or libel cases. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/26 "2015-06-25T03:55:53Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > I read that story this morning. > > Iā€™ve got a couple of questions > > - How was this bloke allowed to have a smartphone in the operating theatre? Maybe things are different in the US, but the couple of times Iā€™ve had to have operations done, Iā€™ve been in the hospital gown and a pair of hospital provided socks and thatā€™s it. > ā€¦ If itā€™s a private practice, the procedures are a bit different. I am a ā€œfrequent flierā€ re colonoscopies, and my bag of clothing actually comes along with me (under the gurney); I stay on the gurney for the procedure and into recovery. Iā€™ve never tried to record anything, but I imagine it would actually be fairly easy for me to smuggle my phone in with me - or just leave it in the bag of stuff, with the record function turned on. The anesthesiologist was an idiot (well, duh) - not everyone is sedated enough that they canā€™t hear (though admittedly, part of the sedation contributes to amnesia). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/27 "2015-06-25T04:39:59Z")
> [@JVDaly](#): > > I gotta be honest, I really donā€™t see the big deal. I mean, this is a woman who explores colons for a living. You gotta get your laughs where you can in a job like that. The syphallys/TB jokes, I can deal with, in fact, it even sounded like the PT was joking around to at the beginning. And, frankly, once Iā€™m out, joke all you want, what do I care. My problem is that they gave him a fake diagnosis. Think about what happens after that. Does he go on a special diet? Does he have another colonoscopy in a year instead of 10? Does he pay a few thousand more because they removed them? Does the Doc write scripts for some meds that he know takes and he has to pay for? Honestly, what was the motivation for that. To me, my only guess is that itā€™s a jaded/tired/bored nurse that needs to find a new line of work, or at least make a lateral shift within to something else. Iā€™d guess all of these procedures are recorded, maybe anything that these two have worked on in the past few years should be reviewed and if the videos/pictures donā€™t show whatā€™s been diagnosed these people should be called back in to be rechecked. > [@GreedySmurf](#): > > I read that story this morning. > > Iā€™ve got a couple of questions > > - How was this bloke allowed to have a smartphone in the operating theatre? Maybe things are different in the US, but the couple of times Iā€™ve had to have operations done, Iā€™ve been in the hospital gown and a pair of hospital provided socks and thatā€™s it. When Iā€™ve have my endoscopies, Iā€™ve brought my glasses into the OR. If my phone happened to be on the bed with me (and on silent), I doubt they would have cared. Also, if it was in my pocket (sometimes they even let me keep my pants on), no one would have even noticed. Remember, in EGD/Colonoscopies, theyā€™re feeding a camera into your mouth or ass, itā€™s not really a sterile environment, not like when they have to cut you open. But again, my issue is more with the fake diagnosis than anything else. And like I said, perhaps anyone else whoā€™s been worked on by these two should look into having their charts rechecked or get rescoped under the docā€™s or the anesthesiologistā€™s malpractice insurance. If this is the type of doc that does 10 of these a day, a lawyer might be able to to turn it into a class action suit. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/28 "2015-06-25T04:41:54Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Piles of cash seem like a very appropriate award in this situation.šŸ˜‰ Buttloads, he should receive at least one buttload, if not an entire assload of money. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/29 "2015-06-25T04:49:03Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > No, I donā€™t think it is. > > We sometimes have a pretty sick sense of gallows humor, to be sure. Yes, we sometimes say things we probably shouldnā€™t. Yes, we should always behave as if the patient is conscious and hearing us, and we donā€™t always. But this goes beyond a few ill advised jokes. (Although I am surprised that he was awarded anything at all, as there was no real compensable injury. ā€œanxiety, embarrassment and loss of sleepā€ donā€™t usually result in cash awards. I can only surmise that the jury was just so shocked they gave him a pile of cash because they felt bad for the guy.) > > But the real no-no here is indeed falsifying medical records. I can get in a heap shit of trouble if I accidentally code for 490 Bronchitis instead of 494 Bronchiectasis. Simply making up a diagnosis, even a minor one like Hemorrhoids, is Just Not Done. I have used dark humor many a time in my job. I think dark humor is great. Hell when my son was born via c-section I was in the OR (almost 40 years ago when this was NOT common). Anyway OB invites me to stand by him at the table. I responded ā€œMind if I cut in?ā€ The staff loved it. Dark humor I get. Falsely records is over the line. Way over the line. I donā€™t get that. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/30 "2015-06-25T09:05:44Z")
Thereā€™s a big difference between gallows humor and jokes that show outright contempt for someone putting his life in your hands. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/31 "2015-06-25T09:48:04Z")
JFTR my endoscopy came with a diagnosis of internal hemorrhoids. I was advised that these do not require any medication. Also, in the absence of polyps, I do not need to go in for another colonoscopy for ten years. I donā€™t wish to minimize the seriousness of ordering a false diagnosis to be recordrd, but the implications of this false diagnosis do not strike me as being far-reaching with respect to further unnecessary medical treatment that the patient would be subjected to as a result of this one. I will be happy to accept correction from a medical professional. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/32 "2015-06-25T10:05:18Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > If itā€™s a private practice, the procedures are a bit different. I am a ā€œfrequent flierā€ re colonoscopies, and my bag of clothing actually comes along with me (under the gurney); I stay on the gurney for the procedure and into recovery. Iā€™ve never tried to record anything, but I imagine it would actually be fairly easy for me to smuggle my phone in with me - or just leave it in the bag of stuff, with the record function turned on. > > The anesthesiologist was an idiot (well, duh) - not everyone is sedated enough that they canā€™t hear (though admittedly, part of the sedation contributes to amnesia). I had my colonoscopy in a university hospital setting, and my clothes were in a bag under the gurney. Also, I was NOT fully unconscious during the procedure. I was aware of what was going on and of voices, although they were speaking softly. I didnā€™t have any pain or discomfort, but I definitely felt the ā€œprobeā€ working its way in the whole time. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Thereā€™s a big difference between gallows humor and jokes that show outright contempt for someone putting his life in your hands. This is (as it were), the bottom line. Why has everyone except **Ascenray** missed this? They were insulting the patient and taking advantage of his helplessness. If it had just been dark/gallows humor, okay, fineā€¦but they (see headline) TRASHED the patient because they thought he couldnā€™t hear them. This is not just unprofessional, itā€™s inhumane. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/33 "2015-06-25T13:05:58Z")
> [@JVDaly](#): > > I gotta be honest, I really donā€™t see the big deal. I mean, this is a woman who explores colons for a living. You gotta get your laughs where you can in a job like that. Yeah, she probably talks shit about all her patients. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/34 "2015-06-25T13:55:11Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > A bigger part of the award was straight-up malpractice. The anesthesiologist intentionally made shit up on the medical records, becauseā€¦ I have no idea honestly. Possibly to upcode the procedure from a \*screening \* colonoscopy to a higher paying \*diagnostic \*colonoscopy. Or to be able to include or upcode an evaluation and management (E/M) code along with the procedure code. Iā€™d like to give the docs the benefit of the doubt and think they did see evidence of the diagnosis after the anesthesiologist made the comment that she didnā€™t even look for it pre-op, but that doesnā€™t seem likely since they lost the malpractice part of the suit. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/35 "2015-06-25T14:23:15Z")
Anyone but me think there was nothing accidental about the recorder being left on? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/36 "2015-06-25T14:25:44Z")
There is a lot of unprofessional talk/behavior, society is often just a thin veneer of politeness. That doesnā€™t make this right, but just be aware of reality. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/37 "2015-06-25T14:37:56Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Anyone but me think there was nothing accidental about the recorder being left on? I was just coming to post that. I assume, out of curiosity, he left the recorder on to hear what went on during the procedure. When he heard all the comments and decided to sue, he and his lawyer, I assume used the ā€˜I must have bumped the record button by accidentā€™ excuse. That way it sounds like an accident and not like he was out to get them. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/38 "2015-06-25T14:40:51Z")
He said he turned it on with the intention of recording the doctorā€™s instructions to him and forgot it was on. I believe him. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/39 "2015-06-25T14:49:52Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > ā€¦ > > This is (as it were), the bottom line. Why has everyone except **Ascenray** missed this? They were insulting the patient and taking advantage of his helplessness. If it had just been dark/gallows humor, okay, fineā€¦but they (see headline) TRASHED the patient because they thought he couldnā€™t hear them. This is not just unprofessional, itā€™s inhumane. That doesnā€™t bother me much. Sometimes customers are annoying, and employees say nasty things behind their back. Itā€™s not ā€œinhumaneā€ if he doesnā€™t know about it. Trying to avoid completing the job (ā€œpretend i already talked to himā€) is clearly wrong, though. And the fake diagnosis is beyond the pale. And they usually only use light sedation for colonoscopies, and while most people donā€™t remember the procedure, a few do. So they were really stupid, in addition to being unprofessional. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403/40 "2015-06-25T14:56:24Z")
> [@JVDaly](#): > > I gotta be honest, I really donā€™t see the big deal. I mean, this is a woman who explores colons for a living. You gotta get your laughs where you can in a job like that. Sheā€™s an anesthetists, not a proctologist, she passes gas for a living. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anesthesiologist-trashes-sedated-patient/723403.md?page=3)