# Woman enters hospital to give birth, leaves a quadruple amputee **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 27, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856 "2006-01-27T16:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/1 "2006-01-27T16:22:11Z")
[And the hospital won’t tell her what happened.](http://www.globalnewsmatrix.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4394) She was told she had a bacterial infection, but they will not give her any information on how she may have contracted the disease. I don’t understand if the hospital is being unduly beaurocratic, or if their hands are tied because of the way the law is written. Either way, I find this horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/2 "2006-01-27T16:31:02Z")
I think the hospital amputated the wrong patient, and she can’t get the medical records of her own surgery because it lists the other patients name. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/3 "2006-01-27T16:38:07Z")
It’s bizzare. The hospital is basically making it so that the only way for the patient to get her records is to sue the hospital so the court can order them to be released. If the hospital was right to amputate, then they’re creating an unneccessary lawsuit, if wrong, they’re gonna get sued anyways, and thier just gonna make themselves look worse to the jury by not telling the women what happened. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/4 "2006-01-27T16:46:01Z")
Oh my freaking God. As this is not in the Pit, I can’t fully express my feelings at this time. This is beyond ridiculous, beyond horrible, beyond any words I can put to it. Surreal. Inhumane. Horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![roshia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6bbea6/32.png) [@roshia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roshia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/5 "2006-01-27T16:47:28Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > I think the hospital amputated the wrong patient, and she can’t get the medical records of her own surgery because it lists the other patients name. Yeah, that’s what I was going to say. Also, “You had an infection” sounds a lot better than “Oops. Better luck next time?” ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/6 "2006-01-27T16:48:24Z")
> [@The Weird One](#): > > Oh my freaking God. As this is not in the Pit, I can’t fully express my feelings at this time. This is beyond ridiculous, beyond horrible, beyond any words I can put to it. Surreal. Inhumane. Horrifying. I started out here, feeling it was better to be moved INTO the Pit rather than post in the wrong forum. I’ll alert a mod and see what they thing. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/7 "2006-01-27T16:58:33Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > I think the hospital amputated the wrong patient, and she can’t get the medical records of her own surgery because it lists the other patients name. I concur. Otherwise, how could requesting information regarding the procedure that was _done to her_… > [@](#): > > The hospital maintains the woman wants to know information that would violate other patients’ rights. ?? Makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/8 "2006-01-27T17:02:28Z")
They’re full of shit. The only way they would violate other patients’ rights in the process is if they left in information about those patients that could be used to identify them. Just black out that information on the copies you send to her, and presto, violation averted. Maybe they figure that if she has to sue them for the records, she won’t have enough money left to sue again once she sees (my assumption here) their massive screwup recorded in those records. Hopefully there are some good lawyers around there who’ll work pro bono, if that’s the case. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/9 "2006-01-27T17:04:24Z")
Wow! That is messed up. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/10 "2006-01-27T17:06:31Z")
I don’t know anything about how the conditions they told her about are contracted, but is it possible that they inadvertently exposed her to someone else with those conditions (as opposed to a records mix-up)? Either way, it seems fairly likely that the hospital is going to surrender a ton of money, but cliche as it sounds, no monetary compensation can make up for what they’ve done to this poor woman. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/11 "2006-01-27T17:08:11Z")
> [@Ferret Herder](#): > > Maybe they figure that if she has to sue them for the records, she won’t have enough money left to sue again once she sees (my assumption here) their massive screwup recorded in those records. Hopefully there are some good lawyers around there who’ll work pro bono, if that’s the case. I’m sure in a civil case like this, there will be some attorney that will work on a contigency basis. Unless I’m missing something, I cannot see how the hospital is not in some part negligent here. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/12 "2006-01-27T17:08:33Z")
> [@Ferret Herder](#): > > Hopefully there are some good lawyers around there who’ll work pro bono, if that’s the case. Hopefully?? Are you kidding me? If the news story is even a little bit accurate, this case is a tort attorney’s wet dream. It’s like going to the racetrack and finding that all the horses have three legs–except one. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/13 "2006-01-27T17:09:35Z")
Good Lord. That is truly the stuff of nightmares. I hope they get their asses handed to them in court. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/14 "2006-01-27T17:11:36Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Hopefully?? Are you kidding me? If the news story is even a little bit accurate, this case is a tort attorney’s wet dream. It’s like going to the racetrack and finding that all the horses have three legs–except one. Unfortunate metaphor, don’tcha think? I generally think that I’ve got nightmares that far outstrip anything that could possibly happen. This, however, is so much worse than any nightmare I’ve ever had. Holy crap, poor woman! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/15 "2006-01-27T17:14:58Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > [And the hospital won’t tell her what happened.](http://www.globalnewsmatrix.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4394) > > She was told she had a bacterial infection, but they will not give her any information on how she may have contracted the disease. I don’t understand if the hospital is being unduly beaurocratic, or if their hands are tied because of the way the law is written. > > Either way, I find this horrifying. Thank you for posting this. My Sister, Brother, Niece & BIL live in Orlando. I’d heard nothing about this! :eek: E-mailed them immediately. Again, many thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/16 "2006-01-27T17:19:24Z")
I know that hospital. It’s five minutes from my home and it’s where I took my husband last July when he had a heart attack. All that aside, what I don’t understand is why she went there to have her baby. It does NOT have maternity services. ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/17 "2006-01-27T17:22:31Z")
I work in a medical malpractice office, and one of the attorneys here who I showed the article to said that she _probably_ contracted eclampsyia (sp) and there is, in fact, a consequential infection that does affect the limbs, and that quite possibly, the hospital didn’t screw up, other than the shadiness about the medical records. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/18 "2006-01-27T17:27:41Z")
Why do I smell something funny with this story? I may eat my hat, but something just . . . doesn’t add up. 😕 Tripler [Sick Joke]I can’t quite put my finger on it though . . .[/Sick Joke] ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/19 "2006-01-27T17:28:43Z")
If the hospital didn’t screw up, why won’t they turn over the records? And Orlando Regional South Seminole is where she gave birth, she was transferred to Orlando Regional Medical Center afterwards. Which facility doesn’t have a maternity ward? **Bosda** and **Tupag** , I heard this briefly on the radio last week, but it doesn’t look like it’s hit the national media yet. Can’t imagine why… ---
**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856/20 "2006-01-27T17:35:08Z")
I work in Med Mal insurance, and my assumption would be that the attorneys are making sure they have all their ducks in a row before releasing ANY info. The fact that they refuse to release the patient’s own charts could reflect a possible HIPPA violation, or something that could be construed as such. As it is, it seems like the whole incident is being handled in the worst way possible by the hospital. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-enters-hospital-to-give-birth-leaves-a-quadruple-amputee/341856.md?page=2)