Medical Malpractice Dermatologist Malpractice

[thedogabcd]

Hello. I had been seeing a dermatologist from Cedars-Sinai up until one month ago. I first started seeing this doctor due to some lesions on my face that would not go away, weepy sores on my scalp which would not close, and some mysterious hard lumps on my thumb and palms.
Here was the treatment prescribed for rosacea, dermatitis, and warts.

200 mg doxycycline daily
Clobetasol .05% solution daily
Cryosurgery once on the thumb.
Clenia Emollient Cream

I provided a status update 1.5 months into the treatment stating that the treatment was not working. I was basically ignored for another 1.5 months at which point I was able to get another appointment with this doctor.

I specifically asked if it was rosacea the next time I went to see him. His response: "You are pretty inflamed today. Yea. I won't say rosacea today."
Second round of treatment:

Bactrim DS twice daily
Cryosurgery again

I took the Bactrim DS twice daily for a month before starting to cough and vomit at night. I stated that I was experiencing these side effects to my dermatologist. He requested that I schedule an appointment with him. I would not schedule an appointment with him as he requested, and instead requested a referral to a gastroenterologist from this dermatologist. My request for a referral has not been honored to this date.

I went to see a second dermatologist at UCLA who wanted to prescribe Accutane without coming to a conclusive diagnosis. I had also mentioned to this doctor that I had brain surgery in the past, which might complicate the prescription of Accutane, which has been known to cause mental instability. She said it might be MRSA but still wanted to prescribe Accutane anyways, which does not treat MRSA. I still have the informational pamphlets given to me by her. I refused treatment of Accutane after reading that it is no longer manufactured by major pharmaceutical companies due to torts against these companies.

My initial symptoms, the lesions on my face, weeping scalp, and the lumps on my thumbs and hand have not been resolved. In conclusion, I went to a physician, received treatment for four months, became unhealthier for it, and none of my initial symptoms were resolved.

I have filed a grievance with my insurance carrier regarding my doctor with Blue Shield (PPO) two weeks ago. I have not heard back from them yet.

So, now I am going to visit the emergency room because I will not stop vomitting and coughing up phlegm tonight at 3:55 AM. I have tried Zantac and Prilosec otc for about 3 weeks to no effect. I have pictures of what I look like now, which is similar to what I looked like when I first saw him.
What legal recourse do I have now? Of course, I want to be healthy FIRST which is why I am going to the emergency room. Afterwards, I want damages for what I have suffered.

 

[army judge]

Hello. I had been seeing a dermatologist from Cedars-Sinai up until one month ago. I first started seeing this doctor due to some lesions on my face that would not go away, weepy sores on my scalp which would not close, and some mysterious hard lumps on my thumb and palms.
Here was the treatment prescribed for rosacea, dermatitis, and warts.

200 mg doxycycline daily
Clobetasol .05% solution daily
Cryosurgery once on the thumb.
Clenia Emollient Cream

I provided a status update 1.5 months into the treatment stating that the treatment was not working. I was basically ignored for another 1.5 months at which point I was able to get another appointment with this doctor.

I specifically asked if it was rosacea the next time I went to see him. His response: "You are pretty inflamed today. Yea. I won't say rosacea today."
Second round of treatment:

Bactrim DS twice daily
Cryosurgery again

I took the Bactrim DS twice daily for a month before starting to cough and vomit at night. I stated that I was experiencing these side effects to my dermatologist. He requested that I schedule an appointment with him. I would not schedule an appointment with him as he requested, and instead requested a referral to a gastroenterologist from this dermatologist. My request for a referral has not been honored to this date.

I went to see a second dermatologist at UCLA who wanted to prescribe Accutane without coming to a conclusive diagnosis. I had also mentioned to this doctor that I had brain surgery in the past, which might complicate the prescription of Accutane, which has been known to cause mental instability. She said it might be MRSA but still wanted to prescribe Accutane anyways, which does not treat MRSA. I still have the informational pamphlets given to me by her. I refused treatment of Accutane after reading that it is no longer manufactured by major pharmaceutical companies due to torts against these companies.

My initial symptoms, the lesions on my face, weeping scalp, and the lumps on my thumbs and hand have not been resolved. In conclusion, I went to a physician, received treatment for four months, became unhealthier for it, and none of my initial symptoms were resolved.

I have filed a grievance with my insurance carrier regarding my doctor with Blue Shield (PPO) two weeks ago. I have not heard back from them yet.

So, now I am going to visit the emergency room because I will not stop vomitting and coughing up phlegm tonight at 3:55 AM. I have tried Zantac and Prilosec otc for about 3 weeks to no effect. I have pictures of what I look like now, which is similar to what I looked like when I first saw him.
What legal recourse do I have now? Of course, I want to be healthy FIRST which is why I am going to the emergency room. Afterwards, I want damages for what I have suffered.

I pray you will one day be restored to full vigor and vim.

Speak with a good personal injury and/or malpratice attorney at your first opportunity.

Your recitation of the steps leading up to the present crisis is disturbing.

You present an excellent prima facie case for medical malpractice.

Take the contract from BC-POS to the lawyer.

It's terms may prohibit you from suing them or their assigns, force you to go to some sort of limited mediation.

Either way, get well soon!!!

 

[Toddster]

I disagree with the previous poster (but I'm not a lawyer and I take it that he is and was/is a judge). But you didn't follow the dermatologist suggestion to come back in, instead demanding a referral to a gastroenterologist. If your insurance requires a referral it isn't likely from one specialist to another. And the GI problems a month into Bactrim isn't typical.

The second dermatologist's suggestion to take Accutane for a still unknown condition seems odd for sure. But as you didn't take it she didn't damage you actively.

Now depending on whatever you actually HAVE wrong with you...you might have some case against them for "failure to diagnose." However if it is an extremely odd and rare diagnoses it is unlikely that the first doctor failed to follow the standard of care. They tried to get you to come back and you didn't comply. You may see a gastroenterologist if you please...you don't need a dermatologist's permission!!

I'm not a lawyer nor a dermatologist or gastroenterologist. But your failure to follow your doctor's recommendations seems to me to make you the primary person responsible unless UNLESS you have some condition that should have been clear to these doctors...and it sounds like you have an unusual syndrome of some sort. Also there should have been a follow up appointment scheduled after the Bactrim was Rx'd to determine any change. Doctors generally don't do treatment over the phone. Were you asked to come back in after 2 weeks, a month, or if the condition didn't improve?

I'm sounding unsympathetic but I'm not. You MUST take charge of your care! Don't wait for a dermatologist to refer you to a GI doctor....just call and go see one. (Or if your insurance requires it go through your PCP).

Until you know what is actually wrong I don't see there being a case here and can't be sure even then. And I'm not sure what damages you'd have (so far) that would make a lawyer want to take that case.