By Sunnie Bell, RN. I was the nurse in charge of the evening shift at a small hospital. I was enthusiastic and experienced—a top graduate of a prominent nursing school. I had come on duty...
By Bryan E. Bledsoe, DO. I’ll never forget her—in fact, I still have dreams about the look on her children’s faces after she died. Her name was Claire,* and she came into the ER where...
By Robert M. Wachter, MD. I was a second-year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania, and on my second day of rounds at a nearby VA hospital. Penn’s philosophy was to get students seeing...
By Eric Cropp. It was a busy Sunday in the pharmacy at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland. The hospital’s computer system had been down for about ten hours before I started my shift,...
By Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD. I was a young doctor doing specialty training in critical care, and I was exhausted. Partway through a 36-hour shift at Johns Hopkins Hospital, I was hungry and hadn’t slept...
Have you or an immediate family member experienced harm due to medical treatment? Are you a medical professional with a story to share? You can help others to avoid or deal with a similar situation… Read More
I had sinus surgery in June 2013 to repair a deviated septum and sinus turbinates expanded. This was outpatient surgery. I was at the hospital for about 5 hours with no complications. Prior to my...
I have often been over-charged in a hospital ER as well as an inpatient. There should always be statements given or sent to patients in simple terms that are easily understood by any person not...
It started roughly 5 months ago with what felt like a UTI but turned out not to be in the end. After a urine test they found no blood in the urine and I was...
I have an emergency room disaster story. I was awakened from my sleep struggling for my breath. I had to call an ambulance because the shortness of breath situation went on and on. I got...