If I did not receive adequate treatmentby several ER doctors due to a previous addictionand suffered as a result, do I have a case?

If I did not receive adequate treatmentby several ER doctors due to a previous addictionand suffered as a result, do I have a case?

I went to the ER 7 times in 5 days and was told every time that nothing was wrong with me. My ankle hurt me so badly that I knew that something was wrong but the only test that was run at the 3different ER’s was an X-ray that showed my ankle was not broken. I knew it wasn’t broken but it hurt so bad, I no longer was able to walk. I need to tell you that I am a recovering addict and have been clean for 4 years. I take Suboxone which it is important to tell my health professionals because when I need pain medicine, it has to be given it in a special way. As a result of this, I believe I was discriminated against several times by several different doctors. In fact, on my last visit to the ER, I was told by a certain doctor that if I were drugseeking, I was at the wrong hospital to be doing it at. Now, in the 7 times I visited the ER, my vitals were never run nor was any blood taken to see if something was wrong. Later in the evening of my 7th visit, I called an ambulance because, not only did my ankle hurt, but I knew something was really wrong withme. I was admitted to the ICU that evening, with a fever of 103 degrees. I was transported after 2 days of stabilizing me to a better hospital and stayed there for 2 1/2 weeks. During that time, I almost lost my foot due to having a bone infection. If the ER doctors would have acted sooner, this may not have been an issue. I then went onto a nursing home for 5 weeks to have IV antibiotics administered to me twice a day. The more I think about it, the madder I get. I was really very sick and because I am a recovering addict, no one thought that I was really sick. They thought I was just another drug seeker and the last doctor told me as much. Is there something that I can do about this?I went in to the ICU that evening with my blood CRP (a blood test letting you know if there is inflamation in your system) of 117. The normal range is 0-5. Also, another blood test for the same thing is called a sedrate. Mine was 150. Normal is 0-30. I was so obviously sick if they would have just ran the blood tests on me. Should I speak with a medical malpractice attorney? In Rapides County, LA.

Asked on August 22, 2010 under Personal Injury, Louisiana

Answers:

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