getting very suspicious - Cerebral Palsy Message Board

OrbOfConfusion · 03-17-2004, 09:27 PM

This past Tuesday me and my husband went to the hospital where our daughter was born to get copies of all records of her birth. There are two things that are making us very suspicious:

1. The records department didn't give us copies of the fetal monitor readings
after I specifically requested ALL records. Why did they exclude them?

2. Shortly after the birth, I remember asking when I could see my daughter
(they brought her about ten hours later) and a nurse told me they had to keep her in the nursery because her temperature was high. According to the medical records, her temp was at 98.3 degrees fifteen minutes after birth. And she maintained regular temps throughout the hospital stay. Why did the nurse lie?

I am trying very hard not to jump to any conclusions until I know for sure what caused my daughter's cp. But it's beginning to look like they are hiding something. So we decided to get a lawyer and let him help us figure this out. Though I don't like going this route, it's the only way to get my questions answered. Has anyone else here dealt with possible lies and cover-ups?

musicmaker650 · 03-18-2004, 07:34 PM

I like your decision to retain a lawyer... I'm sure you will find the answers you are seeking, although the medical profession will do everything to "protect" itself. I was put right into an incubator of pure oxygen, after I was born 2 months premature at 2 pounds 8 ounces. I was diagnosed with having Spastic Diplegia CP at the age of 5.

*exhausted* · 03-21-2004, 09:40 AM

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Its very sad, but the hospitals will do whatever they can to cover up mistakes. A hospital is resposible for my sons CP. We hired lawyers and it took 4 months for the hospital to hand over all records to the lawyers. But, they refused to give me any copies for my own records (though, last year while my son was hospitalized, they left the records sitting in the room- and I read some very intersting things...things that were obviously a cover-up). By the time my lawyers were able to send out the records to their board of doctors, it was too late. They beleived that the records had been changed, altered and some totally falsified! But, it could not br proven. So after 2 years we finally dropped our suit. You will be in my prayers. I hope things work out, and you can be able to get some justice. Best wishes to you and yours.

musicmaker650 · 03-21-2004, 10:40 AM

I have heard similar stories,
hospitals are large corporations, and they are very good at "covering" their mistakes... The only way to prevail in this suit, would be to have direct testimony from one of the hospitals staff. This is highly unlikely to happen though... I wonder how many people that are affected by CP, were victims of "accidents" or other "man made" decisions

OrbOfConfusion · 03-22-2004, 04:32 AM

Thanks for your info exhausted and musicmaker.

I went to the hospital a couple of days ago to get fetal monitor strips and still didnt get them because the attendant said she didnt have time to finish them. I gave her two hours to copy them.

Though I did ask her who was supposed to pull the records. She said she was the one who pulled them and copied them.

Even if they end up altering the records, the most important thing for me is to know what caused my daughter's cp, even if records can't technically prove it. Yes, I will be angry but at least I will know.

take care,
Melissa