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Re: JimmyA
Sorry to hear that, Sir Wiley. I hear and read about hospital mistakes all the time, and regardless of the percentages, that's the one field where there is simply no room for error! Yet another thing that the U.S. and Canada have in common, although it's definitely not something to be proud of . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 8, 2013 at 5:28 AM
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Re:
Yes it was, sam! I saw no ambiguity with that note either! It almost makes you think someone may have done it on purpose! I'm not sure exactly why, but it could appear that way . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 8, 2013 at 5:26 AM
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Re:
Well, mariss, my friend simply has no choice but to avoid fish because of his allergies. He didn't need to vow anything. Yes, someone should have been a little more than reprimanded over this one! He'll be alright . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 8, 2013 at 5:24 AM
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JimmyA
Something fishy with the hospitals here too my friend. My last visit to the hospital nearly killed me because I caught that C-Difficile virus in te previous hospital in Ottawa who had just done my last prostate operation.
posted by
WileyJohn
on May 7, 2013 at 7:42 PM
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That's a hard one to fathom! I wonder how they missed it! It really doesn't make sese since it was CLEARLY marked! Amazing! sam 
posted by
sam444
on May 7, 2013 at 5:45 PM
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Neither Howard, (nor the cook or nurse responsible) were right in this. I have done many impulsive things myself to harm myself and know how it could happen. Someone should have been reprimanded over it as well as Howard vowing not to allow himself to eat any more fish. I am glad he is alright now.
posted by
mariss9
on May 7, 2013 at 2:35 PM
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Re:
I'm sure, lustor, that there must have been a few pairs of eyes that the menu went through, not just the cook. The nurse, the orderly, and quite possibly the doctor too should have seen that instruction and made sure my friend was not given fish! Hard to say who may have actually been to blame for this one . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 7, 2013 at 1:30 PM
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too much incompetence going on. Cant the person who cooks their food read?
posted by
Lanetay
on May 7, 2013 at 11:55 AM
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Re:
I'm glad he survived too, Annicita! I think I could have understood, and possibly even forgiven the mix up, if the menu with those same, huge, red letters stating NO FISH had not been sitting right there next to the plate! A nightmare indeed . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on May 7, 2013 at 7:19 AM
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Re: JimmyA
I've always felt that way too, Sir Wiley. I was very fortunate to have a father who taught us at an early age to always possess a strong work ethic. Whatever you do, do it well, to the best of your abilities. Double and triple check yourself, and do everything in your power to be error-free, regardless of the endeavor. And in the health care profession, this is the kind of thinking and work ethic that should be required 24/7! I'll be perfectly honest, nowadays I'm scared to death to have to endure any type of lengthy hospital stay, just for those reasons . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 7, 2013 at 7:16 AM
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Re: Jimmy
I believe, Naut, that in this particular case "outrageously careless" may be considered an understatement, especially since it actually turned into a life-threatening situation. Yeah, if you're in a McDonald's and you order a cheeseburger and they hand you a fish filet sandwich, that's one thing. But when you're in a hospital and you give them specific instructions of what not to serve because of severe allergies . . . there are simply no excuses!
posted by
JimmyA
on May 7, 2013 at 7:11 AM
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Re: Fish Alergy
Thanks for siding with me on this one, MsJudy. With all of the choices on that menu, I could almost understand someone accidentally bringing my friend fish instead of roast beef ( an honest mistake ). But when there are huge red letters specifically saying NO FISH, there is no understanding! I almost hate to say this or bring this up but, sometimes I can't help but to wonder what may have happened if ( God forbid ) my friend had actually died . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 7, 2013 at 7:08 AM
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Re: Careless Mistakes
He'll be fine, Mia, but now quite understandably leery of doctors, nurses, orderlies and hospitals in general! Of course you're right . . . there are certain fields and professions where there are just no margins for error, nor are there any excuses for not following a simple direction or instruction. I hate to sound so critical, but sometimes I can't help but to wonder how some of these people got their jobs in the first place . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 7, 2013 at 7:04 AM
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Re:
Well that doesn't seem right, FSI, or fair! That must have been some time ago, because today, that same teacher would probably have been hung for forcing a student to ingest something they were allergic to! But in her particular case, she didn't necessarily make a mistake as much as show little compassion for someone else's ailment. Either way, it just makes you shake your head and wonder . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 7, 2013 at 7:00 AM
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Re:
I guess I can understand that, lovelylady, but it's a shame that you may have been deterred from doing something noble like going into the health care profession out of fear of being in the middle of such errors. I am sooooo glad that I am generally healthy, and very, very rarely have to go to the doctor's, let alone a hospital. I get more nervous each day after reading and hearing of such incidences! I know it's only a matter of time before I will have no choice, but in the meantime, I'd rather be home . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 7, 2013 at 6:56 AM
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Re:
I had a feeling, Dr JPT, that most people would. And I would imagine that, in this day and age, a THINK ALOUD SESSION would be considered extremely dangerous, since our so-called "freedom of speech" rights have been fading slowly but surely over time. God forbid you even consider calling someone incompetent today, or call them on the carpet for making a mistake of any kind! They'll find some excuse to make it your fault and sue you for firing them, if it comes to that. If they're a woman, you're sexist! If they're black, you're a racist. If they're gay, you're a homophobe. If they're Jewish, you're an anti-Semite. You'll be everything but a conscientious boss trying to get the most out of your employees. No, I don't know where these folks come from either . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on May 7, 2013 at 6:52 AM
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someone probably in a hurry to finish the trays or mixed them up....what a nightmare...glad he survived
posted by
Annicita
on May 7, 2013 at 3:23 AM
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JimmyA
That kind of labour would not be acceptable anywhere.Have a great week.
posted by
WileyJohn
on May 6, 2013 at 9:07 PM
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Jimmy
Outrageously careless! Even in a fast-food joint that would be unacceptable, but in a hospital?!
posted by
Nautikos
on May 6, 2013 at 8:35 PM
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Fish Alergy
I don't think it sounds harsh at all! If it was marked in big red letter "NO FISH" that means there is a reason that person does not want fish! And that it almost closed up his throat and killed him is definitely a life threatening thing! I hope someone got fired or at least very seriously repromanded.../LadybugJudy
posted by
MsJudy
on May 6, 2013 at 4:05 PM
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Careless Mistakes
Sure, everyone makes them. But there are a few fields (Doctors, Nurses, hospital staff, police etc.) where it's just not acceptable. These people are in positions that require a higher level of care and focus - if you accept the position, you must also accept the responsibility that comes along with it, and make sure your every action is above reproach!
I'm glad to hear that your friend survived the hospital and is (hopefully) on his way to a great recovery!
posted by
Mia890
on May 6, 2013 at 10:14 AM
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It is a shame something like that happened, especially something that should have been so easily avoided. I don't blame him for not being a happy camper during all of that.
An old friend of one once told me that in pre-school, he told the teacher he was allergic to milk products. She made him have it anyway, and he threw up.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on May 6, 2013 at 10:04 AM
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Doctors and other various hospital staff seem more and more to be losing compassion and respect for their patients these days, Jimmy. It's incidents like these that make me all the more glad I didn't go to medical school after all...much as I wanted to for the longest time.
posted by
lovelyladymonk
on May 6, 2013 at 9:28 AM
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I lost my job as an assistant principal partly because I said that a person would have to be lazy or incompetent if unable to complete the task of assigning class and teacher in the spring so that parents and students would know prior to summer. I did not call the principal's name just made a statement. I was called in by the superintendent after the assistant superintendent who agreed to serve as my mentor while working on my doctorate forwarded him the e-mail in a THINK ALOUD SESSION.
A friend of mine marked her knee when she had surgery with NOT THIS ONE after a man in Tampa lost both legs because they operated on the wrong one.
I bought a CD with these lyrics: You can't fix stupid, you can't prepare dumb, evolution is not the answer, I don't know where these folk come from.
I understand your feelings on this one.
posted by
Dr_JPT
on May 6, 2013 at 9:11 AM
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