# Where's davidm? In the hospital recovering from a medical screwup. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 29, 2017, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049 "2017-11-29T12:24:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/461 "2018-09-04T23:51:04Z")
I must apologize. I’ve been following your saga and wishing you well for a long time but haven’t posted because I’m not a long-term SDMB friend of yours. I don’t know why I gave in to the impulse today. Please ignore my question, which probably seemed odd coming out of the blue like that. I’ll go back to silently cheering you on from here. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/462 "2018-09-05T00:19:59Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Are you not eligible for SSDI? While I admire your pride, if you’re unable to work, that’s one area to explore. If you’re found eligible, you’ll get benefits back to the date you became eligible, up to a year. > That lump sum benefit could help you pay those medical expenses down. > > How ironic ad despicable that you have to make payments to the very hospital that damaged you! To be fair, as far as I can tell, the hospital that did the damage hasn’t charged me anything. However, the insurance did pay them nearly half a million if I read the statement right. (I have no love for the insurance company but it hardly seems fair that my insurance should be paying for the hospital’s mistake. That should be entirely on the hospital.) The bills I’m receiving are for other services such as rehab centers, ambulance services, and home care. ---
**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:** [September 11, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/463 "2018-09-11T16:19:19Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > That link works fine for me. > > The insurer covers the bill just not the entire bill. I’m liable for deductibles and copays. At some point, you should hit your “out of pocket” limit on your policy. I can’t imagine that you haven’t hit it yet, in fact, given all your expenses, even your out-of-network limit. Hell, we hit our in-network OOP limit in April with just two surgeries. I know your original surgery and hospital recovery were last year, but do check on how things stand for this year. Verify with the IV fluid place to make sure they’re billing insurance. Even if you had, say, a 6,000 deductible and then they pay 70%, it’s hard to imagine how the residual 30% would add up to 3,000 dollars (that’s a 10,000 fee). ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/464 "2018-09-11T23:39:36Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > it’s hard to imagine how the residual 30% would add up to 3,000 dollars (that’s a 10,000 fee). He’s been sick for a long time now. Could add up to that much, over time. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/465 "2018-09-12T16:42:58Z")
> [@blob](#): > > He’s been sick for a long time now. Could add up to that much, over time. Absolutely - even just counting since January 1 (new plan year, presumably). But it’s worth checking to be sure he’s not getting double billed and that insurance has processed everything correctly. We hit our out of pocket limit in April… and our insurance charged us for several services for my daughter that were incurred well after that time. DavidM, I know you’re getting hammered by expenses right and left. If you have not looked into bankruptcy, it may be worth considering. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/466 "2018-09-12T18:48:39Z")
To be fair? Seriously? How is it fair? Yeah, they didn’t bill you for their services, but surely they should be covering the costs of all the after care as well, it ALL results from their error after all. I don’t think anything is fair here. You can’t work, your expenses are mounting and you’re supposed to be focused on getting well. Not worried about paying your rent or going bankrupt! That’s not fair, that’s cruel to my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/467 "2018-09-18T20:03:12Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Absolutely - even just counting since January 1 (new plan year, presumably). But it’s worth checking to be sure he’s not getting double billed and that insurance has processed everything correctly. > > We hit our out of pocket limit in April… and our insurance charged us for several services for my daughter that were incurred well after that time. > > DavidM, I know you’re getting hammered by expenses right and left. If you have not looked into bankruptcy, it may be worth considering. Couldn’t agree more. I had a hip replacement early in February of this year. The recovery has not gone according to the surgeon’s plan. Surely not according to MY plan. I recently did a rough accounting. Including the 6 months before the surgery where I was having images taken to track the decay of my right hip socket, I’m hovering JUST around $ 100,000 in gross billing. Our plan is okay but not great. I have yet to hit my deductible limits. Bills just…keep…pounding away. I really feel for you, pal. You’re doing what you can to stay afloat. Keep at that !!! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/468 "2018-09-18T20:12:46Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > To be fair, as far as I can tell, the hospital that did the damage hasn’t charged me anything. However, the insurance did pay them nearly half a million if I read the statement right. (I have no love for the insurance company but it hardly seems fair that my insurance should be paying for the hospital’s mistake. That should be entirely on the hospital.) > > The bills I’m receiving are for other services such as rehab centers, ambulance services, and home care. The hospital should be on the hook for all of it, not just what happens at their facility. Keep the records and work with your attorney. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/469 "2018-09-18T20:36:53Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > The hospital should be on the hook for all of it, not just what happens at their facility. Keep the records and work with your attorney. I am not a malpractice attorney, and my comments are about general principles, not this case in particular of our fellow doper and friend, **davidm**. But perforations during colonoscopy are generally considered risks of having the procedure, not automatically evidence of improper actions, much less malpractice. So it could be a high bar to try to clear, to prove malpractice, unless much more than that went on. Again, I am not making an opinion on this case, only stating an observation. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/470 "2018-09-19T00:27:58Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I am not a malpractice attorney, and my comments are about general principles, not this case in particular of our fellow doper and friend, **davidm**. > > But perforations during colonoscopy are generally considered risks of having the procedure, not automatically evidence of improper actions, much less malpractice. > > So it could be a high bar to try to clear, to prove malpractice, unless much more than that went on. > > Again, I am not making an opinion on this case, only stating an observation. This is what I’m concerned about. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2018, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/471 "2018-10-07T05:54:00Z")
I just saw my surgeon for a follow up. I’m constantly learning new things about what happened with me. She told me that she had to leave my abdomen open for days covered with a bandage and that I was taken back to the OR several times. I shudder to think about it! ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2018, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/472 "2018-10-07T06:03:01Z")
How are you doing now, davidm? Physically, fiscally, and otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2018, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/473 "2018-10-07T06:09:53Z")
Physically, I’m getting stronger every day. Fiscally, we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/474 "2018-10-09T16:46:35Z")
I’ve started a GoFundMe campaign for help with medical expenses. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=863657](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=863657) ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/475 "2018-10-12T18:31:16Z")
I just heard from my nurse. My bloodwork looks good so they’re cutting me back from 3 to 2 bags of IV fluids a week. Progress! ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/476 "2018-10-14T04:36:59Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I just heard from my nurse. My bloodwork looks good so they’re cutting me back from 3 to 2 bags of IV fluids a week. Progress! Progress, a very good thing! Happy to hear it’s going in a positive direction. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/477 "2018-10-20T23:55:40Z")
My bloodwork showed that I’m a little anemic, so I made liver and onions for dinner tonight. You really appreciate eating when you had to go months without it! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/478 "2018-10-21T02:27:06Z")
Thanks for the update on your continued improvement. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/479 "2018-10-26T23:07:20Z")
My blood sugar is elevated. Damn, I hope I don’t become diabetic from all of this. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049/480 "2018-10-27T00:49:40Z")
Has it been elevated every time it’s been checked, or just in the last test? Also, are you doing better financially now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-davidm-in-the-hospital-recovering-from-a-medical-screwup/803049.md?page=25)