$15M awarded to patient injected with carcinogen - what went wrong?

#patientcare #safetyfirst #doctorlife
What can you do to prevent medical errors from happening to you? Learn what happened in a massive $15M settlement against UCSF for accidental formaldehyde injection in a patient.
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This video/speech/channel DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE. Patients with medical concerns should contact their physician. If your concern is an emergency, immediately call 911. This information is not a recommendation for ANY THERAPY. Some substances referenced in this content may be illegal, and this content is not a recommendation for, or endorsement of, their use in any way.

[@susanscavelli732]

Drs should never be offended when a patient asks anything and should answer always!

[@sandrachebo]

If a doctor is offended by your asking to see the labeled meds, then HE/SHE has a problem.

[@kjones5710]

Agree. But very often, they are offended. I recently had a male physician get angry at me for having an adverse reaction to six Cortizone shots in my trapezoid muscle for pain relief from whiplash. Angry? I ended up apologizing for scaring him with my adverse reaction. His nurse and I had quite a conversation after I recovered. Anytime I encounter a physician who acts inappropriately, I spread the word throughout the facility in which he or she works. It is the only way I know to prevent other patients from suffering the BS I have had to endure.

[@angelacaudill453]

Some providers have egos that feel the patients who ask questions are beneath them or mentally unstable.

[@KatherineHogue]

Dealt with doctors’ who talk down to patients. I’ve been on the receiving end of jerks like this.

[@Bellywash]

@@KatherineHogueme too !!

[@deannazandi1797]

@@angelacaudill453 IT'S MEDICAL GASLIGHTING. IF THEY DISMISS YOU, OR DON'T HEAR & PROCESS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING THEM. EXCUSE YOURSELF, WALK AWAY. LOOK FOR A NEW PROVIDER. DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR POWER. I TAKE A NOTE PAD WITH ME. WITH QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. DOCUMENTATION IS HUGE IN ACCOUNTABILITY. IT SHOULD FEEL LIKE TEAM WORK NOT SARCASTIC EGO BS.

[@karenforslund5717]

​​@KatherineHogue Me, too. Thanks for actually writing that !!

[@PenelopeCruise.41]

I've had multiple experiences with ego filled physicians, surgeons, etc. Although my own medical experience helps, I research before I go in for a procedure or a simple visit. When their ego comes out, and I can answer why own question back to them, that ego gets bruised a bit.

[@caronhundley6070]

Surgical tech for 38 years. NEVER had unlabeled syringes or med. cups , or any liquid on my back table!

[@dorimurray-harris5149]

Absolutely!! And formalin stinks! Show me a label or get another bottle!

[@karenforslund5717]

​@@dorimurray-harris5149You rock !!

[@silntbtrfly]

Yes everything should be labeled

[@lenitaphillips2186]

@@silntbtrfly Concur!

[@lenitaphillips2186]

@@dorimurray-harris5149 Agree!

[@Grandmotherof3]

Our lives are filled with terror everywhere we go. Even in the hospital for an emergency! So horrible!

[@1111111111202]

More ppl die on chemo than the cancer they're treating. 3rd leading cause of death is medical errors and ppl were paid of not to list this. Medical schools misnform doctors for the most part.

[@heidimisfeldt5685]

Always pray and ask for protection from above. We cannot do without. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@heidimisfeldt5685]

Pray always and do according to what God lays on your heart, that still small voice described in scriptures, some call it a gut feeling. Always harken unto that still small voice, because it is God speaking to our heart ❤ 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@heidimisfeldt5685]

Which begs the question WHY ??? 😱

[@heidimisfeldt5685]

Think of all that was different some 200 years ago. Our environment, our air, our food, our clothes, and our homes. Our sleeping habits.

[@cherylscarborough4405]

Being scared, a bit intimidated and in pain, I would hope that you and those who wear your shoes would offer that information to me. Rather than spending one second waiting for me to ask. Love your informative information that is so needed and appreciated! Thank you!!!

[@lynnhart3712]

You can ask, but that doesn't mean you'll get an accurate answer.

[@DavidVCastro]

"How to be a Patient" is a GREAT book for teaching us to be more assertive about asking medical practitioners what they're doing and why.

[@beago0810]

Thank you. Just checked it out of my local library.

[@karenforslund5717]

Thanks for your comment. I'm going to check it out. 😊

[@ruthjohnson6369]

Thank you for all do to educate and reassure patients. It doesn't happen very often these days and is so needed. Your channel is invaluable.

[@marylisabrown9198]

Two weeks ago, I was in the hospital for sepsis, including the ICU. They were giving me all kinds of stuff. I asked EVERY TIME!!

[@meredithaherntamilio4553]

I hope you are feeling better 🙏my thoughts and prayers are with you, 😁

[@stephenludlum9746]

I have been in the hospital several times in the last few years, and every time they gave me anything, they told me what it was and explained what it was. I just had two nerve blocks last week, and the doctor showed me the Drug vial and the empty syringe first and drew the medication in front of me, then asked if I had any questions before he did the procedure.

[@nancymueller6206]

I DID ask. The anesthesiologist answered with “one that works.” Golly, thanks, Doc! It turns out that it DID NOT WORK. I WOKE up on the surgical table, in pain. By the time they wheeled me in to the recovery room, I was crying/screaming incoherently because the pain was the worst I’d experienced.

[@DotheImpossible-n5t]

Oh no. That's horrible.

[@mikaelastefkova]

I'm so sorry, I can't even imagine how horrible that must have been :(( Sending love 💗

[@saraha7632]

Oh, and as a pharmacy tech in a hospital for over 15 years. Our anesthesiologists were horrible at not having labeled items. If you use an unlabeled anything, you are intending harm. I just don't understand why this is so hard. We provided everything they needed for labeled drugs. I am comfortable asking, I had an endoscopy once and I absolutely asked and made them how me the vials they came from. Oh man, sorry this got me charged up. Nurses also do stuff like this with drugs. They dump them all in a cup and if someone tries to ask which one is which, they don't know. (Patients, please ask, if a pill looks different, it may be a different manufacturer or you got the wrong one)

[@kathyharmon2093]

Not all nurses do that, retired after 43 years and have serious concerns about the current generation of nurses, doctors, NP, and PA, I was horrifically sick for several months and while waiting many weeks and in significant pain went literally from one provider to the next trying to get help, nobody ran tests!!!!! When I finally got into the specialist office they immediately did biopsies and cultures ( I looked like a burn patient from just above my knees to almost my waist) I begged some of the previous NPs I saw to do culture and biopsies, one of them looked at me and said ( there’s nothing to culture) unbelievable, turns out I had a severe allergic reaction to penicillin that I had taken for pneumonia that literally caused my body to burn and because I had open areas for so long while waiting to see someone who knew what to do I got 3 serious bacterial infections in my burns of which any one of the 3 could have killed me, it’s absolutely terrifying the level of incompetence out there.

[@saraha7632]

@kathyharmon2093 that really sucks. Penicillin allergies are super important to know. I hope things are resolved in your favor. I wish you the best.

[@honeysucklewoes1627]

​@kathyharmon2093 this just makes me livid...

[@deannazandi1797]

7:14 into the video, I hit pause. YES, I ASK. I WON'T ALLOW THEM TO MEDICATE ME WITH ANYTHING UNTIL I ASK. WHAT IS IT FOR, WHY, NAME OF MED. Yes, I've had then say why do I want to know. I'm honest, "IT'S MY BODY, WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS. THAT THIS MIGHT SAVE ME, WHILE KEEPING THE ADMINISTRATOR SAFE ALSO." I'VE NEVER BEEN PUT UNDER WITH OUT SPEAKING TO THE SURGEN FIRST EITHER. Please don't be afraid to ask. If you're trusting them to work on or in your body. Dear Lord, ask them. I even ask them what procedure they are doing. Saftey first. You're worth it. Thank you, Dr., for your upfront approach to keeping us safe.

[@MaryBethStevens]

I have known I am MH susceptible since the mid 80's. I've lived in the same town and gone to the same hospital since then. I've had several procedures, and I always remind the anesthesiologist. During a endoscopy in February, I had the talk. He still gave me the wrong medicine and I had an episode. Now I'm scared to death and have after affects. This was totally unacceptable and I am looking for a lawyer.

[@debconley2310]

Absolutely terrifying

[@itsmarieg5816]

Wow I’m so sorry that happened. What is MH?

[@EsmereldaPea]

​@@itsmarieg5816- I didn't know either. "Malignant hyperthermia susceptibility (MHS) is a pharmacogenetic disorder of skeletal muscle calcium regulation associated with uncontrolled skeletal muscle hypermetabolism.«

[@rebeccabamford5505]

Years ago, The night before I was to have a scheduled C-section, I happen to watch a show on TV whether it was dateline or 20/20 or something like that I really can’t remember. Anyways the story was about a little boy who was having a normal tonsillectomy and somehow the anesthesiologist shut off his oxygen instead of the anesthetic and of course, the little boy died and Being that I was scheduled to have a baby the next day it really affected me and also made me nervous. fast-forward to the next day as I’m going to have my scheduled C-section. The anesthesiologist is talking to me because the spinal that he was trying for wasn’t working we don’t know why it just wasn’t happening so they were going to put me out, and before he put me out I kind of jokingly told him the story of what I saw on TV the night before how the little boys anesthesiologist shut off his oxygen instead of the anesthetic and I asked him to please make sure he turns off the correct one when things are done because I had another child at home that needed me, and I said it jokingly, but I also was serious and he Smiled at me and he kind of chuckled a little bit and he said I promise you I will shut the correct one off. So years later I always felt like it didn’t hurt to just tell him that I was concerned and I was worried and he didn’t make me feel bad about asking the question and I’ve always appreciated it.

[@melaniemonti8115]

Thursday of last week I had surgery to replace the battery of my Spinal Cord Stimulator. The anesthesiologist visited me before the surgery and because of what I have learned from you, Dr. Kaveh, I asked what he was going to use to put me to sleep? He told me and it was just so easy of a conversation and I learned what I needed to know. Thanks!

[@lmk0799]

I had a dentist use formaldehyde in a botched root canal. I have no doubt it caused the cancers i deal with. Nobody on either side of my family has ever had health problems like i do. Not even close.

[@Lexxie45]

I'm scheduled to have sinus surgery on Feb 21st to remove something that has been growing in my left sinus and causing me all kinds of problems including not being able to breathe properly because of the blockage. I've been watching your videos and taking a ton of notes. I just added this one because I will have tissue removed to be sent to pathology lab for testing. My team is either going to be very impressed with me or they going to be annoyed because you bet I'm going to ask questions and asking for things that will make me feel better and put me at ease. My preop appointment with the ENT surgeon will be 1 week before the surgery and I will request a personal consultation with the anesthesiologist too. I have many things to tell him/her. Thank you for all you do for us Dr. Kaveh. I appreciate it very much.

[@savvybytes3748]

I pride myself on being annoying! You must advocate for yourself. They work for us and they are not G_d no matter what they think of themselves.

[@EsmereldaPea]

​@savvybytes3748 - absolutely! Before my very complicated hysterectomy I have about 3 pages of questions (with space to write answers). I had two copies - one for me and one for my surgeon. He was so impressed, he asked if he could keep it and use it to help create an educational document for future surgical patients. Conversely, I've had doctors get annoyed when I ask questions or bring studies to them. I fire those docs. But I happen to be in an area that has several high quality hospitals.

[@heidimisfeldt5685]

Everything needs to be clearly labeled, in order to avoid such mistakes and accidents. Because we all are human, even the doctors are.😊❤

[@judithpipino9518]

I absolutely would not be afraid to ask and I have done so.

[@LillianRose-p8n]

I asked so many questions and if they have an attitude about it then I ask for someone else. I've checked myself out of ERs against medical advice bc their information made no sense or they gave me vague answers or didn't answer at all. Don't ever play with these medical people.

[@noahreilly5014]

It scares me very much 😳..I'm definitely ⚠️ ⚠️ cautious of anything I know about IA being performed in surgery. If I ever need an anesthesiologist I'll have to go to San Francisco. Because you're the best thanks for watching out for us

[@darlenegent603]

My husband comes with me to hospitals and Dr appointments and he will ask if I don't. His asking kept a nurse from giving me medication meant for someone else.

[@Ann-kv1fi]

Y'all ! He is worthit! less than $4 per month to subscribe! I've been the victim of so many medical messups as a mother of seven and two that have special needs One is heart disease dilated cardiomyopathy and the other was diagnosed with seizures at the onset of puberty which is very different than seizures as a baby. I've been studying medicine and medical literature for 30 years and he is on point I'm telling you he should be charging at least $20 a month!

[@LewandCharlie]

I know a pharmacist who was sued for medication errors. His pharmacy filled a prescription for a 30 year old woman who was going to have a endoscopy The pharmacy filled the prescription full script instead of diluted. The doctor didn't look at the prescription to check the strength. The doctor assumed it was diluted. The girl was put life support. Unfortunately a very sad situation. Something that could have been prevented.

[@karenforslund5717]

I am so glad that you commented and that I read what you wrote. I even read it two more times to make sure I understood what you wrote. What a scary thing to happen. I wish the pharmacist and doctor would have checked the contence as carefully as I checked your comment. ☹️

[@LillianRose-p8n]

Is she ok today?

[@LewandCharlie]

@@LillianRose-p8n I don't know the outcome of this young woman. I was told she would need full care for the rest of her life. I also suffered from a medication error while I was hospitalized for a horse riding accident. I was given steroids and the order for discontinue was neglected. I developed AVN of multiple joints and have undergone bone graphs. I am still facing more surgeries. So yeah definitely ask about medication. Without hesitation.

[@LillianRose-p8n]

@LewandCharlie Oh gosh. I'm so sorry that happened to y'all. I don't think I've had anything to serious happen to me, thankfully. Besides from them squirting my blood out of me my whole CT scan. Then them having an issue that I didn't want the same man doing it again. He had to call a nurse in to help stop my blood from squirting. It was crazy. I also had a hospital diagnosis me with a fracture tail bone and another small area with a hair line fracture. I went for my follow up with my PCP and he was confused bc they didn't even get pictures of that area. They only got my lower vertebra smh. I don't really trust hospitals to be honest.

[@LewandCharlie]

@@LillianRose-p8n I hope you are doing well and I definitely agree with you.

[@Kristi-FireFighter-vz2rs]

I can never catch you live! I've been in the hospital for a few days and this place has shuffled me around and I'm sick! I have colon cysts and finally tomorrow, on a Sunday, they're helping me. I hope! So many questions I'd love to ask you but now cat😢. Maybe catch ya next time. I love how educational and honest you are! Thank you!!

[@GeriDean]

Mayo tried to give me the wrong drug. I need desmopressin prior to surgery and they tried to give me cardiopressin. I told them I would take out my IV if they tried. Eventually they figured it out, but this could have been life threatening when I got into surgery. I always ask what the drug is.

[@heidimisfeldt5685]

Essential self preservation, good for you.😊❤

[@cher1292]

I just got to the part about getting the tattoos on your body about allergies. I am seriously considering having DNR tattooed on my chest! I am 62 years old with severe osteoporosis and I do not want to go through the pain of every one of my ribs being broken! My husband and kids laugh at me for that but I am beyond serious. I can break toes and fingers simply by sweeping my floor or ribs by my husband hugging me. I have several healed cracked ribs and I do not want them trying to save my life and dealing with all of that horrible pain it would cause.

[@loricagardener4826]

You need something removable so they know you made a conscious decision to wear it on that day. None of the hospitals in my state pay any attention to tattoos. Try medic alert.

[@katiedid8192]

Formaldehyde has an abnoxious smell. I am a retired nurse and have asked many times when getting injections. In this case would the person drawing up the solution not become aware of the smell.

[@bernadettedunn6129]

I had an aunt who was born with no sense of smell. She would mix ammonia and bleach and did not realize it until one of our family with a sense of smell would come in and catch her. She finally was educated that is a no-no.

[@davidhicks8296]

No there are people who shouldn't be allowed to use anything dangerous, except when they are by themselves.

[@susanscavelli732]

Wow! Drs need to be more aware and double check everything. Never use unlabeled anything!

[@Diorella_scent]

I have had two serious incidents while in hospital. I have a very broken body and spine after a 7 x rollover MVA. My spine was broken in 4 seperate places, the worst being C2. I’m always having neurosurgery. After a spine fusion from C2-C7 my pain is unbearable. The second day after they went in through my throat, I wasn’t as sharp as a tack, I ended up receiving two separate doses of opiods etc and I slipped into a coma. Luckily my husband was with me and is a strong advocate for me and alerted medical staff. I ended up back in ICU for over a week. I’ve had recent neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery. The orthopaedic surgery was carried out after 10 months after the break. I was transferred to another hospital and the specialist demanded that the physios take the cast off of my broken elbow. The cast was only on for 2 days, before that lunatic decides that my elbow was not broken . Ive had more surgery last week by an arm and hand specialist. She couldn’t fix the damage, and I am truely devastated. I play piano, violin and guitar, and I have lost the use of my left hand. The ulnar nerve couldn’t be fixed. It got entrapped and shredded during rehab. I’ve had enough. The Australian health system is grinding to a halt due to an American super health insurance buying up all the private hospitals, and trying to make us into the USA.

[@jennifermorrison229]

I asked a question of a surgeon and he asked me if I was in the medical profession. I said “no I read”

[@josheridan3073]

Thanks for this, I’m going for a general in 2 weeks. It’s a 4 hour procedure and hadn’t thought to ask what medicines they give but now I will. I’ve watched a few of your videos which I think is helping me cope with what’s ahead so thanks!

[@lucycantor1081]

The last Colonoscopy I had I asked and he was very interested and we discussed Michael Jackson’s case as it was Propofol that they were sedating me with. Thanks Doc for your informative videos.

[@KiyannaWolfclaw]

I ask about everything... including to receive the surgical notes after the surgery. I explain that I'm just very curious and then have the doctor explain anything that happened in the surgery notes that I don't understand. Have had many surgeries throughout my life and do this for every single one of them. Luckily, I've yet to get a surgeon that has refused to go over the surgery notes, which is MY medical information that I'm entitled to, so they can't. Ask for everything regarding before, during and after your surgery.

[@beago0810]

In NYS it's a "One-party (namely me) Informed Consent" state. I record ALL my Medical and Dental appointments. It's for my information to listen to at a later time to see if I missed anything that was said to me or by me or generally discussed. 😊

[@julieneria9834]

I’m perfectly comfortable asking my anesthesiologist questions. I asked the other day right before my endoscopy/colonoscopy. I met him prior to the procedure and was comfortable with when I went into the operating room. I like to break the ice with my doctors/anesthesiologists to calm myself down by making a little joke or something that lets them know I trust them. It’s great for both of us.

[@barbaralee1485]

Why would there be anything being injected be unlabeled?

[@bernadettedunn6129]

I’m bummed out because it sounds like pretty loose rules for the cup of formaldehyde unlabeled being available next to an unlabeled cup of anesthesia meds. I’m having surgery in about a month and this does not boost my confidence in the least. I totally intend to ask my team what’s in the needle but what if they just take the substance from an assistant who doesn’t give a shit?

[@bridgettgathof6950]

I always ask, and have anesthesiologists tell me what was being injected before any injection. I have been very fortunate to never have anyone blowing me off when I ask.

[@tinybutmightycookie2518]

I had a bad experience when I asked my anesthesiologist what he was injecting and the reply I got was a laugh followed by « have you studied medicine ? No. So whatever I tell you you wouldn’t know what it is » … charming 😔 This was in France where I live.

[@nancymueller6206]

Wow! I didn’t know that doctors in other countries are trying to keep us dumb

[@dmc6554]

I

[@karenbenigar2750]

How awful!

[@foresthiker6707]

Shame on him! 🤨

[@jeannieconsiders]

Obviously, not good.

[@josephineshaffer7451]

Yes I will be doing this from now on.

[@suzannekaram1995]

While on staff in a college of medicine/Trauma Level I hospital, a fourth-year medical student (who happened to be an instrumentalist in my church choir) once told me that doctors treating me for a triple abscess (right lung, diaphragm, liver) just wanted me to shut up and do as told! I responded with my understanding that physicians preferred to treat patients who were wholly engaged in their care🤔 I will never stop advocating for myself! I have a rare cancer diagnosis, requiring more surgery within a few weeks and have requested an anesthesiology consult before the next procedure because something unfamiliar went very wrong on 12/12/24‼️One issue was in receiving only 12.5mg Promethazine...a dose not sufficient for a mere baby mouse!!

[@jeanbethea1870]

Oh my! I'm severely allergic to formaldehyde. I've had 7 surgeries and will have more. I remember telling a preoperative nurse ONCE about this allergy, and she laughed it off like it wouldn't matter. I've never mentioned it since. Thank you for posting this video!

[@janieraccoon]

Shouldn't all the medication and cups be marked?

[@JeanEveleigh]

I recently had to have a colonoscopy and chose to have it under sedation as I have EDS however despite having fentanyl patches giving me most of my regular pain relief (I was asked to hold off on my oral meds while on nil-by-mouth) and being given fentanyl, midazolam and buscopan via IV I was still very uncomfortable during the procedure, how do you express this without seeming to be a drug addict etc. This is not the first time that local anaesthetic or mild sedatives have not worked on me and Dr's/dentists have not been aware enough to notice and give me enough to be comfortable. I am frightened to ask for more as I have been told that my normal daily medication dosage could cover 6 appendectomy surgeries as it is.

[@jeffreyfox-r9r]

If the doctor had no idea what they were injecting what good would it do to ask. The answer would be what they already assumed it was

[@rutht2023]

One of my nieces was similar to you. Pain medicine just didn't work well for her.

[@Regina5327]

Try Versed and Propofol when you wake up get a Narcan injection to nullify the Versed. Then go back to your Fentanyl.

[@lisat9802]

I metabolize nonvaccine really fast, I told my new dentist this, explained that during a procedure that pain comes roaring back in. He understood, and he actually gave injections that kept me pain free the entire procedure. I was so grateful.

[@ginaheaton2203]

Whewwwww........im from the medical field and I know what you're talking about. I can't believe any doctor used a liquid in an unlabeled cup.

[@borabora4480]

How in the world would anyone confuse a syringe bottle with a cup with a colored lid? This "mistake" is so hard to image happening, that it leans towards intentional on someone's part. Reent experences of mine include a doctor who never wanted to be questioned. Needless to say, I never returned to him or even the clinic that he was associated with.

[@heidimisfeldt5685]

I do hope you let him know WHY, in no uncertain terms. Because that may help other patients going there, hopefully said doctor changes his present behavior. Might want to make it known.

[@paulsdrc]

I’ve had a lot of “procedures” and there’s nothing like being put under by the anesthesiologist and waking up to him and his boss asking me what I remember. Which I believe they shouldn’t use a med that’s limits memory, in my case they were counting on it.

[@RanDom-Interloper]

Unless you're planning to file a lawsuit, asking questions can be considered violent behavior and you could not only have the procedure canceled but also be terminated from the entire facility and doctors. Many hospitals and doctor's offices label complaints as "violent behavior". Be warned. I woke up from a surgery with severe nausea and vomiting, they gave me one medication, made it worse, another even worse so I was retching with nothing coming out. I managed to just crawl away from the hospital and dump my vomit bag in the parking lot and go home. I would have been charged if I'd stayed longer and I was only covered for 23 hours stay. And my insurance company told me I ran the risk of being permanently terminated from the hospital and affiliated doctors if I made an official complaint. They said it had happened to other patients so they said to only do anonymous surveys or reviews unless you were planning to sue.

[@janetsearching9294]

That's horrible! Where was this?

[@itsmarieg5816]

Wow this is absolutely unbelievable… so sorry this happened to you 😢

[@suebissell6717]

Sorry, I never thought to ask. Of that generation of total trust.

[@beago0810]

I'm 67 and have pissed off many doctors because I asked. I don't see doctors or go to hospitals that have poor reviews. I think an ER department with a review score of 2.4 is alarming. I found I am ignored when I explain to them I cannot have contraindicated drugs, but they never noted it in the discharge notes and she still went ahead and called the prescription into my local pharmacy. That pisses me off. I called my insurance company and CVS to tell them that drug was not authorized by me and the PA ignored my noted health concerns about the drug and my pre-existing condition that the drug should not have been prescribed. I'm in the process of reporting that facility to NYS Dept. of Health Centralized Hospital Intake Program and additionally to the Office of Professional Medical Misconduct. This behavior clearly has to be stopped. I refuse to become a medical statistic due to someone's sloppy practices.

[@sbhgrace3]

Yes! I have and always will. Did the same for my husband's 5 surgeries for the size of his tube in his throat! They kept putting bigger and bigger for each surgery! His vocal cords got injured! I wanted it investigated. That's when it was discovered they used a bigger one each time! So I for the last surgery they used the smallest amd it was so much better and no damage. But we also asked every time they came in the hospital room hey what is this and they kept bringing new meds dang near every time! They got so rude about it and it caused the insurance issues and all.skrts of problems because they kept putting in his file "patient refused" we have now learned that we should have said to put in file that we request a consultation with a doctor becore taking. I don't know if that would help but maybe.

[@osilva2367]

How old is this case? How long did it take to get to court and an award? Sometimes these cases take a long time and in the meantime the family suffers.

[@suesuepix.]

I’d have NO PROBLEM questioning the anesthesiologist of what is going to be injected into me! I have experience in this, as I have lousy veins, and am used to instructing a tech where on my body to draw my blood, W/A BUTTERFLY syringe! There are times, where my veins won’t yield, and they won’t jabs me. I have to tell them, I won’t leave until they do! I know my veins a WHOLE LOT BETTER than they do. I’ve also been told, years ago when in my late 20’s early 30’s that the next time she sees me, she’ll run down the hall screaming. I think you get the picture! I’m used to it, especially when my husband was in ICU and I found out about a medication tolerance issue. When I asked the resident why wasn’t this mentioned, the answer was he didn’t know I knew about medications. Yes HIS. I’m not a woman with letters after my name, but I pay attention to things! I don’t trust anyone…the human factor to pay attention to a friend or family member is quite a bit higher, than a patient who’s unknown. I’ve witnessed it.

[@roseorosco154]

Dr I am going for surgery on February 4th to remove a carotid tumor. Thank you for the advice and even though it will make me uncomfortable to ask, after hearing your advice I will ask while in the operating room and I will ask for after surgery. I will spend 1-2 days. We must also ask after we are in our room ask the nurse what is she giving you and dosage amount.

[@DotheImpossible-n5t]

I always ask anyway. They don't like me for it but I want to Know 100% what they are doing.

[@angelacaudill453]

PS: Thank you 🌻💪

[@47retta]

When you go in for surgery, they have you sign a form for permission to give various medications and also vaccinations. I tell rhem i don't want any vaccinations but i wonder if they give them anyway since they have a signed form from you?

[@davidhicks8296]

Ask for a detailed list of EVERY medication used in treatment.

[@paulis7319]

If people asked what was in the syringe before taking their Covid shots, there would be a lot more athletes and other people still alive, because the doctors were not (and still are not) told what is actually in that injection.

[@EsmereldaPea]

Oh please! Were there risks to the Covid vaccine? Yes. There are risks to taking OTC meds or even the lettuce you buy in the grocery store. Covid vaccines saved thousands if not millions of lives. Now what color was your Kool Aid? Red, I bet.

[@patvangordon1888]

I'd rather ask a Dr. to "recheck" what they're injecting in me. Without a medical degree, how would we know if "what" is being injected is the "right" medicine, even if we ask.

[@enjoylfe]

absolutely!!! I ask a lot of questions. I believe he took it like I was questioning his abilities and expertise. Doctors need to put their ego a side. I actually got kicked out of the doctor’s office because we were “arguing” back-and-forth about what is best for my body. I thought I was having a discussion?! I put my clothes back on and quietly walked out. 😮

[@toxic_idiota1202]

this is scary for me because i’m having a wisdom tooth removal (I know super safe and common procedure) in the bay area I am extremely nervous but your videos have helped me calm down and know that I can speak up and vouch for myself and I have a right to know how and why they are doing what they are doing. I will be going under in the next few weeks if anything feels off with my doctor I will not stand for it, I know it’s a dumb procedure to be scared of but thank you for helping me overcome the fear a little bit much love and I hope that if I need something operated on that you will be my doctor😅😅

[@gibby2212]

In this case, if she had asked what is being injected the practitioner probably would have answered with the anesthetic he/she thought was being administered. They did not know an error had been made so how would “asking”have prevented it?

[@MedicalSecrets]

One can never know if asking would have prevented it, especially if the patient was sedated, that would be even more infeasible. However, in my experience, when patients ask questions about their safety, people in the room tend to double check what they are doing. Of course, this is anecdote, but in such situations, there may be a little more we can do to support our patients

[@debconley2310]

I’m petrified to ever have surgery again. I had a laminectomy to remove a tumor from the cauda equine. Surgery went well but it took them over 5 hours to wake me up. I have asked everywhere I could as to what happened and am still without an answer. The record was illegible to me. Someone said maybe too much paralytic? It was supposed to be 7-8 hours but was done in an hour and 45 minutes. Any thoughts doctor?

[@rosehenninger1594]

He gave me too much Bupivacaine. I had seizures and went into a coma. He sat with me and listened to my heart. I had radiofrequency ablation for lower back pain.

[@stephenludlum9746]

I have been in the hospital several times in the last few years, and every time they gave me anything, they told me what it was and explained what it was. I just had two nerve blocks last week, and the doctor showed me the Drug vial and the empty syringe first and drew the medication in front of me, then asked if I had any questions before he did the procedure.

[@youtube_username_]

6:20 "Doctor, what are you injecting in me?"

[@health_yogi7687]

I asked a hundred questions idc if it's offensive or not! lol my intention is never to be offensive but you have to be your own advocate.

[@lenitaphillips2186]

Thanks!

[@MedicalSecrets]

You are so welcome!

[@PetPrepRadioShow]

Thank you Dr Kaveh! I'm very worried about an upcoming surgery -- -THR...

[@saraha7632]

Having worked as a pharmacy tech in an OR suite. Anesthesiologists had to pick up med boxes and only certain meds can be pulled from a pyxis (automated dispensing machine) I should have mentioned that in our OR suites we have automated med machines that are smaller and made for anesthesiologists. I don't know if they like them but does reduce the need for boxes.

[@V3012bkind]

20 year stroke survivor I am my own advocate. Advanced directive and DNR in place on file with the hospitals in town. Was an ER hospital did not listen to me. Did not follow my DNR. I am living with the mental consequences of that. I don’t know how to protect myself.

[@shanawilson9029]

I would never ask out of fear/doubt. Although I should not feel that way. I have had a medical mistake, although not an issue with medication. I lieu if this I am now often hospitalized. Often I must start at the ER as the side effects are both chronic and Acute. Being in the ER and then dealing with a different hospitalist and staff, I deal with different personalities. As a whole (not always!), I find doctors and especially surgeons to be very authoritarian and, without bedside manners. Especially when it comes to pain! Another commenter said it best (not a quote)- Dr's often have egos and when questioned they then question the patient's mental health.

[@colsho6795]

Ask many questions and have no problem doing so. I am very medically curious so just want to know and understand. Actually have issues with a doctor that is offended by my asking. Not questioning his/her abilities just like to know things.

[@leecarlson9713]

I usually ask in as interested a tone of voice possible, and with a smile on my face: “What does that medication do,” or, “Wow! That is a huge machine! How does this procedure work?” Or, “Why are we doing this?” Of course, by this time, I already have established a relationship with the nurses, techs, greeting them, making them smile with a funny little comment, or a compliment; letting them know I see them as people. And hopefully, I have a good relationship with my physician, too. That makes asking questions much more accepted.

[@eviltwinnancy4561]

I am a former Phlebotomist. I can't tell you how many times I've had to sit through a blood draw and let them contaminate and bruise my arm, and re-stick, and make it a horrible experience all because their egos are so big that they can't handle any input from a patient. Even if it's directly from the National Phlebotomy Association.

[@janekimmell2729]

But would that question actually trigger the Dr. to know that the formaldehyde was in the syringe or would the person just have given the canned answer of the normal drugs? Unmarked cups of stuff being injected into the patient is the problem.

[@classicalgas8297]

I have asked doctors many times what they were going to inject. I have a lot of side effects and a lot of surgeries. I am allergic to torodol and doctors like to put it with medications. Even though it’s on my allergist list…they have still given it to me!

[@iamthatiam44444]

My mother was in a nursing home and needed her regular panadol for arthritis, I asked her nurse if she was due for her panadol and she said I dont know I see the charge nurse. The charge nurse came running back with fentanyl injection for mum!!! If i wasn't there, she would have been jabbed with that and unconscious for 2 days with her kidney disease. Scary places these hospitals and nursing home's 😳

[@gordonlawrence1448]

One thing I like about the NHS, they actually ask your permission where possible to inject with XYZ even if it is something as mundane as a vitamin. They also remove drips if asked. I was on a low sodium rehydration drip. After being on it for 6 hours it was driving me insane. Basically as I could not roll onto my side to sleep. The nurse tried to persuade me to keep it in and when that did not work got the sister. The sister saw I had been drinking a lot of water plus a little fruit juice and decided I did not need it. It was out there and then.

[@JamesBaraga-lj5zd]

Yes I would love to ask my doctor what's in the needle before they inject to me especially after hearing what you just said here

[@smokahontas-rex]

Informed consent requires this! I'd absolutely ask, and have, with the medical/ nursing informing me very promptly and respectfully.

[@sheilayagodzinski5747]

I was going to have surgery. Minor, home the same day. I had seen on the news that you feel the pain but you are given a drug so you forget and I saw it twice. So the told the doctoc i wanted to speak to the anesthesiologist. Well i got an appointment and got to speak to the head of the department. He flipped out and started yelling at me and really didn't answer me asking how told you that, never reassured me . I told the doctor doing the surgery what happened and she said they would make sure he wouldn't be there. There was a nice woman that was and it was comforting. Very scary getting yelled at.

[@itsmarieg5816]

Wow I never heard this 😱 what do you mean that patients feel pain but they’re given a medication to forget the memory? That’s so scary 😨

[@sheilayagodzinski5747]

@itsmarieg5816 I hope it isn't true, sone better explanation. Maybe the doctor will answer here.

[@heididukes394]

Wouldn’t a major surgeon or an anesthesiologist simply think that we wouldn’t even know enough about these medications and simply placate us?

[@christinarivas5754]

Label. Label label!! LABEL YOUR LIQUIDS!!! This is basic AORN standards 😢 so sorry for all involved, both care team members and patient

[@jdh659]

As a former surgical technologist I'm wondering why formaldehyde would be anywhere near the drugs used by a surgeon or the anesthesiologist? Formaldehyde is never kept in the sterile field. Specimens are put in formaldehyde after the surgical procedures. And how did they even figure out how this mistake was made after the fact? All of this is very suspicious. Asking what is being injected before hand is useless if the person who is doing the injection does not know what is actually in the syringe. I can see how this could have happened but it is not the standard way in which surgical specimens are handled. Formaldehyde and local anesthetics are both clear liquids and could be confused with each other if the cups they are in are not clearly labeled. I've worked in eleven different ORs over nearly thirty years and I've never seen formaldehyde kept in the sterile field during a procedure. This was probably a surgical tech trying to save time and they had the formaldehyde on the table to put the specimens in after they are removed, and they mistakenly drew up the formaldehyde thinking it was the local anesthetics. The surgeon trusts that he is being given what he expects.

[@thegaminglime7103]

I like to know how the surgery is done and what they put in me. And I also let them know that I wake up grumpy and as for forgiveness ahead of time.

[@kmcqueeney1]

I can’t remember if I got calcium or potassium by iv but it burned like fire. I was in tears when I told the nurse giving it. But when the charge nurse came in I clearly remember her saying that it was supposed to be diluted or reconstituted. Do those burn even when mixed correctly? This was years ago so my memory is a little foggy but I remember her saying that. Appreciate the info and the video!

[@MichelleCrawley-u2s]

I’ve had to have my mandible removed and a fibula free flap surgery twice within less than a year. In between the two surgeries I had a surgery to closeup my jawline b/c the “cage” from the first surgery broke through my lower jawline. My first surgery was 16 hours the 2nd 9 hours the last one this past October was 19 hours. I shared all of this b/c I m not the same person. M short term memory is awful and I’m a different person some times. I’ve learned so much from you but could you explain why they gave me fentanyl??? All I know is what I see on TV. I have a prescription drug addict sister and I told my doctors my fears and they all but get mad at me because/c I refuse to take hydrocodone and such. The last surgery they kept me “knocked out” for the days. I m trying to understand why I seem to have such a difficult time controlling myself. I’m looking for answers do I can do better. Thank You for doing what you do there’s very little information out there”there” to help.

[@bannanacoconut]

This is absolutely shocking

[@Idontknowanymore-a]

I have never needed to ask. I am fortunate my doctors and anesthesiologists always tell me what they are going to inject, how it feels, almost done. Then they tell me ok, now I am injecting this and it will do this.

[@dougsturgess2651]

If a proceduralist provides information based on assumptions rather than firsthand knowledge-perhaps because they didn't prepare the medication themselves-it's prudent to request to see the original vial or packaging. This ensures accurate verification of the medication's contents. Being specific in such requests enhances clarity and safety in medical procedures.

[@maryrichmond]

I always ask ! After 1 injection into i.v. during labor for my first child without consent.

[@Regina5327]

When I had a root canal the endodontist numbed my face up to my eyelid for 12 hrs. But he did not hurt me during the procedure, I was very thankful.

[@c.m.303]

I've asked for the smallest needle available and was told she never has any problems as she without hesitation ignored me and stuck me with a straw. Poked through the vein and I ended up with the pain and a big bruise for the next 3 weeks. They can't hear, and don't care anymore.

[@ginaalwaysavip1177]

I hope you know how much we all appreciate you XOXO

[@RisingStar.007]

I'm shocked that every single container in an Operating Theatre is not required to be labeled with what the Contents are. Why is that allowed in a life and death Operating Theatre?

[@helenhebert7127]

Worst thing I experienced with my fibroid surgery was the endometrial biopsy done with zero anesthesia. Not even a Motrin

[@Ms_MinXxX]

I went in for a routine colonoscopy and came out with MRSA...

[@itsmarieg5816]

I’m so sorry … how does that happen ?

[@jenzag7621]

A pharmacist was giving me someone else's medication. When I told her and refused to accept it, she got very upset and started crying. Told her she'd be crying even more if she injured me.

[@cherylween4973]

😮

[@LoveMoneySecretsTV]

Alexis Lorenze the girl who was injured at UCI should get the same attorney to help her. Horrific what happened to her. Are you aware Dr. Kaveh?

[@lenitaphillips2186]

Yes, I would ask. I have several allergies.