More on patient blacklisting

Victims of botched cosmetic surgery often end up on the blacklists of surgeons most skilled and qualified to help them. Frequently, it takes years for such patients to realize they have been blacklisted. From "DEADLY MEDICAL PRACTICES" by Trudy Newman:

"There are basically two different stratifications with patients being given a designation of either “high priority” or “low priority.” Patients with a high priority status will receive the best care available. Patients who, unbeknownst to them, receive a low priority status will get only minimal, rationed or experimental care. Patients are under tested and under treated—if they are treated at all. Alternatively, patients with a low priority status may be over tested, but they will be denied proper care or treatment. The patient may find that he is tested to death with the wrong tests being ordered for his condition. Especially vulnerable are those with chronic illnesses, the elderly, and any others whom physicians deem undesirable."

"Patients who dare to question or challenge their doctor’s authority, or the medical treatment that they receive, may find that they become BLACKLISTED ... Physicians demonstrate a stronger allegiance to their colleagues, than they do towards their innocent and trusting patients. Patients with iatrogenic illnesses often become victims of the blacklist. The problems usually start when medical mistakes are made (either intentionally or unintentionally) and denied. Then the lies and cover-up begin. Documents are often modified, falsified, mysteriously disappear, or important information is excluded from the record. Doctors will go to great lengths to avoid being held accountable, and are generally protected by their professional associations. Once the patient is blacklisted he can then expect to be subjected to character assassination from the medical profession. The patient can anticipate being attacked, discredited and demonized. How dare a patient challenge a doctor's authority? To avoid taking any responsibility for their errors, actions or behavior, doctors--and their governing bodies--will often employ the same tactics that communist countries use to quash political dissent. The patient will be labeled "difficult" or "psychiatric." Such pejorative labels are given to divert attention away from the negligent, incompetent or malpracticing doctor. Patients should not take such labels personally, because these labels say more about the physicians than they do about the patients. Blacklisting is not an error. Blacklisting is an intentional act."

"Because a patient is dealing with their doctor in good faith, it will often take a patient several years to realize what is happening. Once the veil has been lifted and the trusting patient realizes that he is being blacklisted, and is no longer in denial, he may initially experience a sense of shame questioning what he did wrong to deserve such treatment. This shame is usually transient, because after careful examination and reflection the patient rightfully realizes that he is truly the victim. Sensitive patients may experience shame for the doctor’s depravity and lack of moral character. The patient will then move on to experience a righteous indignation. Because of the incredible abuse that a patient endures, he will often experience unbelievable pain and intense anger. Unfortunately, patients are often isolated and left to try to deal with this trauma on their own. "

"Patients who pursue the complaint process through the College of Physicians and Surgeons [in Canada- in the US through State Medical Licensing Boards] because of the substandard care that they have received--often find that they are victimized a second time, because their complaints are not dealt with honestly, fairly or objectively. In the letter that outlines the conclusions of the review, the patient may find that he is attacked by the very organization he was petitioning for assistance. Patients discover that there isn’t an independent outlet to correct and resolve physician error or problems. This additional abuse from the complaint process exacerbates the existing trauma and isolation that the patient is already trying to deal with. "

"Because of the medical profession’s CODE OF SILENCE, the public is often unaware of physicians’ corrupt practices of covert rationing and blacklisting patients. Many patients are afraid to speak out about these abuses, because they fear RETALIATION by the medical community. Retaliation is a legitimate fear. Patients will often find emotional healing only when they are able to connect with other patients who are also being abused and bullied by the medical profession. " [ However, emotional healing cannot restore the victim's functional LIFE as denied appropriate medical treatment can. How many blacklisted patients lives could be restored, but are left to suffer and die because the medical profession engages in blacklisting as a normal and accepted practice?]

Health Records Software Allows Patient Blacklisting by "Flagging"

This is already in use by the Veterans Administration. It may well be a feature of other electronic health record (EHR) software used today.

Patient Blacklisting

Here is a link to interesting views on patient blacklisting
from the Bioethics Discussion Blog which will have you glued to the screen for hours.

Inadequate physical examination belies surgeons' sincerity

Reflection on my "attitude" - 2006 and now. If anything, surgeons' attitudes have reinforced my mistrust and proved their duplicity.

Should I hold onto the hope that in another country, doctors of another culture living in a different society than ours might recognize a sincere patient when they see one?

Lethal Games Doctors Play

I receive lots of e-mail from people who have suffered devastating injuries from cosmetic procedures. More than 90% of these injuries are serious, did not involve risk factors associated with the procedure, were not due to patients' idiosyncratic physiology , but were the direct result of surgeons' negligence, lack of skill, lack of experience in executing certain procedures, etc.

Yesterday I received a message expressing what I have heard numerous times from victims of negligent surgery. I will not reveal the details of her heartbreaking physical dysfunction and disfigurement, which involve the face and neck, and were eerily similar to my own condition. What I want to share is her excellent description of the way injured patients, who most deserve the BEST care, cannot get ANY care at all. I have written about the many times I have consulted surgeons about my own life threatening condition, and never received a physical examination appropriate to the problem. My friends did not believe me until they actually accompanied me to doctors' appointments where I actually took the doctors fingers and placed them in the area where it is impossible NOT to appreciate the lack of support to the inner structures in the neck, making it necessary for me to provide this support externally with a piece of wood. You cannot make a doctor perform an adequate physical examination.

This says it all:

"I have learned all to well how doctors stand in line behind each other. If I'd been in a car accident they'd be falling all over themselves to help. But because this was another doctor's mess no one wants anything to do with me. They won't even examine me. I have fabulous insurance and enough money to get stuff fixed but they won't get involved. It is so painful to get assaulted the first time and then get rejected over and over again. I can't believe this has happened to me. I trusted this guy and all the doctors that came after him. I hate that I no longer trust anyone. I miss that part of me. I want my life back. But I can't be fixed if no one will fully examine me. The only analogy I can think of is it is like being raped and assaulted by a policeman and then having to go to the police station to get help. Having to tell your story over and over again hoping to get someone willing to help you. "

"There definitely needs to be a better way. There is no recourse against them. In California even if a doctor kills you they get a slap on the wrist. The only thing that we can do is get our stories out there. The lawyers don't make a dime so they don't want to sue. The doctors know that and feel like they are untouchable."



It is impossible for anyone who has not suffered this experience to understand how it kills the soul. It kills you thoroughly- inside and out. People who have not personally been through this Hell cannot understand how a doctor can refuse to examine you. They do not refuse outright.. . The do not elevate the interaction to that degree of honesty! It is done through subterfuge and manipulation. It is a strategic maneuver intended to make the medical record appear as if there is nothing wrong. They are expert in covering failure to perform an adequate physical examination and appropriate diagnostics through their manipulation of the language in the medical record. Risk management manuals tell doctors exactly how to legally drive injured patients around in circles... until they just drop dead. From the perspective of the medical profession, that is the point- stall off long enough and sooner or later the patient will just disappear, i.e: die.

The Bad & The Ugly... More Common than You Think

When other cosmetic surgery victims share their stories with me, I know why I continue my effort in exposing the side of this business which rarely reaches the public. Rachael Landes contacted me several weeks ago via private e-mail after joining Losing Face. Her story is compelling and all too familiar. Like many others who have been seriously injured, she wants the public to know how devastating this nightmare can be..not only its physical aspect, but the hidden repercussions attached to such injury..like patient blacklisting.

I suggested she post her messages to to Losing Face, knowing many of its readers have been victimized by the medical establishment, but think they are only part of a minuscule minority. They are not. The carnage is out there, but those who have been damaged in this profound manner are reluctant to go public for many reasons. From a personal perspective, I often wonder why I continue to subject myself to the barrage of criticism I receive, including exploitation by the media. Then I think: If I remain silent, who will expose this travesty of medicine? You develop a tough skin and must be willing to endure trashing by the public and character assassination by the medical profession to stand your ground when openly criticising high profile surgeons and institutions. More often than not, the price exacted may be your only chance to obtain medical treatment necessary for survival.

Patients and surgeons alike fall victim to the conspiracy of silence within the medical profession. Doctors are justified in their fear of blowing the whistle on incompetent colleagues or disrupting the status quo. The thanks they receive for standing the high ground are few to none. Rather, they are ostracized by peers and their livelihoods threatened. (The Cost of Courage: How the Tables Turn on Doctors) I have personally witnessed good doctors remain silent while they attempt to fix botched operations by incompetent colleagues, and the patients on the receiving end of their skills tacitly agree to remain silent as well.

Rachael is more than willing to share her story so that others may benefit from her experience, but she was not able to post long messages on the board. She gave me a green light to post her e-mail, so I have opened up pages especially for her voice - a voice that needs to be heard.