Susan M. Wagner Subsequent surgery and permanent disability resulting from hospital refusal to treat infection

Your Name: Susan M. Wagner

Patient’s Name/Relationship: Self

City/State: Gainesville FL

When did event occur (what year)? 2015

Where did event occur? Acute Care General Hospital

What type of medical harm did you experience or witness? Combination of Above or “Other”. Please explain.

Please describe what happened. I was given an IV in the back of my left hand, nearly in my wrist. It missed the vein (by nearly 1/4 inch), infiltrated the tissue, caused a severe infection (including an open abscess on my palm) and severe nerve damage in my hand, forearm and elbow. While in that MEDICAL l unit, my sole treatment was an occasional ice pack and NO ANTIBIOTICS, even though I consistently begged for something. I was told the problems (huge swelling, pain, numbness) would all go away when the swelling went down. I was given one Tylenol every six hours. Subsequent surgery could not repair the nerve damage, and because of FL’s bizarre laws, I’ve had no recourse against the Shands/UF Empire hospital/staff for the permanent damage they caused me, physical, emotional and mental. No one will take my case because I was unemployed at the time (not by choice) so they can’t make enough profit from my situation.

What was the outcome of the medical harm issue? Permanent disability