"I felt like a third grade citizen at Monash Medical Centre"

I was admitted to Monash Medical Center, for a minor drug overdose, to which was not my own doing, but rather an accident [I will let people make up their own minds up. Otherwise I couldn't care less what people think]. Also I'm not a drug user, by any stretch of the imagination.

Since this was a first time to experience this unfortunate event, to which I'm still not proud of, I thought I would admit myself at Monash. However that night, I felt I was treated not like a patient. Instead I felt I was treated like a third grade citizen, an animal, and a d****ead [to put it mildly].

Despite me not knowing the effects the drugs had over me, I felt I was still in control of most of the things I was saying. I felt, the nurses did nothing for me to comfort me or encourage me to be strong.

It appeared to me that the nurses thought the drugs had taken it's full effect, and performed, what seem to me to be, stupid/idiotic tests on me, bringing me around from room to room, and putting shit [otherwise known as instruments and tools] in my mouth and eye.

I felt let down, feeling humiliated, and embarrassed. I absolutely hated and felt disgusted the way I was being treated that night.

I was born at Monash, I had major surgery there when I was a teenager, a family member was admitted there during their cancer to which this family member is now passed away, and many other times I went to the Monash. I had an excellent experience, the people were fantastic, and supportive.

I understand maybe I'm a little to blame, and the situation might not have been so severe, but this is not the point.

The point I'm trying to make is that nurses and health professionals, have a duty of "unlimited sympathetic care" to their patients in any situation. Whether it's a scratch on your knee, a major surgery, or a drug overdose, I think nurses and health professionals need to exercise a sense of sensitivity towards all patients, in any situation. Unfortunately I did not feel this from them that night.

I do not want people thinking, this is a reflection of the entire health system, because I commend the hard work nurses and health professionals perform to all Australians, I really do, with hand on heart. I also wish them to continue to fight for their entitlements, to support their hard work, and commitment to public service.

However this latest experience, has forced me to turn my back on the Monash Medical Center, and I have made a commitment to myself to never go back there again.