Michael Moore and Medical Care in America

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I don't really need to ask why Michael Moore is investigating medical care in America. My mother died on Christmas Eve and I have first hand experience on why the industry is ripe for picking. Instead, I was just wondering if anybody knows what his research will involve because I may be in the unenviable position of possessing information which he might find interesting.

Just for starters:

(1) My mom was 81 and though any surgery would have been risky, the doctor admitted that he should have performed open heart, by-pass surgery instead of putting the stints in her heart.

(2) What happened was that one of the stints failed about three days after her operation. In my opinion, in addition to performing the improper surgery, they set her up with a ticking time bomb by sending her home too early.

(3) She only lived a few days after the stint failed. In that time, the doctor gave us a rosy picture of survival. Because of his prognosis, we always felt she was going to have a full recovery. However, the faces of the nurses and attending physicians said otherwise. Partly because of comments made by one nurse, we had decided to get a second opinion. We were in the process of getting her records together when my mother's heart failed. I believe they said that an artery in her heart blew.

(4) Her last days may have been more agonizing than she let on. In the ICU ward, her sleep was constantly being interrupted. I spent two nights with her in her room and I didn't get any sleep. I even chastised one nurse (who was Indian) because she would slam into the door to open it. It would startle me -- imagine what it did to my mom! We kept the door closed because our room was next to the nurse's station and they were always laughing and making unnecessary noise. I had to ask them to be quiet once, but I don't understand why I had to even remind them in an ICU ward! The one time my mother spoke in anger was after I spoke crossly to the Indian nurse for barging in. After the Indian nurse left the room, in Spanish my mom said, "Lock it!". Of course I couldn't, but I wish I could have. Anyway, she was too weak from lack of sleep and the stint complications to deal with everything they were doing to her. And there was so much they did, treating every symptom to try to get the monitors too read normal. There were drips to slow down her heartbeat when her heart began to race, even though one of the side effects of the pulmonary preventative medicine they gave her agitated the heart rate; when her heart rate slowed too quickly and didn't seem to recover, they added a pacemaker. When her pressure dropped, the doctor suggested we add salt to her food, even though my mom suffered from high blood pressure most of her life. Oh, gosh, there was so many things they did to her based on what the monitors said, even though it was obvious from the lecture the doctor gave the attendants, that they weren't taking proper readings. I suspect now that the decision to slow down her heart rate was based on one such improper reading.

So, I know why Michael Moore would want to investigate medical care. I was just wondering what information anyone had on the specifics of his research.

[4morewars]

1. I'm sorry for your loss....

And for all your poor mom had to endure, and your family as well.

Michael Moore's new movie is going to be called, "SICKO" and takes a look at the health care industry including big pharm. Isn't it sick that health care is an "industry" in this country ? Anyway here's a link to a not too informative article:

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/19582004.htm

That's the best one i found. Here's a link to his web site:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/index.php

Why don't you e-mail him with the above info, he's a pretty regular type guy and easy to get along with, you can reach him here:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/email/index.php

Again, I'm sorry for your pain, I wish you peace, Joe

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5. Thanks Joe.

We can't get her records until they release her death certificate so if we find something in there that we think MM can use, I'll contact him by e-mail, as you suggest.

[davidwparker]

2. Sorry about your loss. Go to Moore's website.

I believe there is a link to contribute your information there.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Thanks.

[rwenos]

3. Some Practical Advice

I'm an attorney, but I don't do medical malpractice so don't email me -- I wouldn't know what the hell to do with your potential case.

My advice is much more practical. If you want to send your mom's story to Michael Moore, or any other strong, muckraking reporter, do these things:

1. Get your mother's medical records for her last illness from the hospital where she was in the ICU. If your Dad is still living, he should be able to request them. Request all the test read-outs too, consult reports, lab reports. Pay the hospital reasonable copying costs.

2. Spend a few days taking notes of what YOU remember from the ICU period. The incident with the door. Conversations between you and your Mom. Conversations between you and the nurses. Do this as soon as you can, because your notes now will be more accurate than anything you can remember later.

3. Get copies of the billings for your mother's final hospitalization. You'll be STUNNED! (My 83 year old dad was in cardiac ICU last year for 26 days. The bill was over $400,000.)

4. Package the whole set of records up in a binder or something similar, and send it to whoever you're going to send it to.

I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, we all have to bury our parents. I'm getting close to that myself, and know how you feel. I hope your family is a comfort to you.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Great advice!

I'll cut and paste it for my brothers and sisters. Especially the part about writing down our memories of what she said to us, and what we remember of the ICU. One thing that was strange is that the ICU nurse that was with her when she collapsed came to the funeral.

I know we all have to bury our parents. We're hoping that the second opinion gives us answers that were not forthcoming with the original doctor, and that they're answers that we can live with.

[lgardengate]

4. Sorry about your mom. My Sis had a stint that riped her

artery or whatever part it was in.Her blood pressure droped and she nearly died on the table.They had just put it in.They saved her but she was months recovering.(she's 60...much older than me but i guess heals better than someone up in 80s).
I think that is always a possibility with a stint.
Still, it sounds like your mom did not get the best of care.
I'd talk to a lawyer and see what he says.

I'm not sure but i think MM is doing his movie on the drug companys.
Maybe someone else will know for sure.

Anyway, Sorry for your loss. I know how awful i would feel if my sister had not made it.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Thank you for sharing your story.

My mom's blood pressure also took a dive, which was uncommon for her.