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Surgeons refusing to give second opinion/ surgery

Posted By Best Practice

"Surgeons refusing to give second opinion/ surgery"

About: Knox Private Hospital

(as a carer),

Knox Private Hospital, how can you honestly tell patients that their care is your utmost main priority, when in my opinion, the very doctors employed there are doing the exact opposite?  After surgery at another hospital, post discharge, my parent developed complications.  They have now been waiting 3 days for their admitting doctor to try and find them a Surgical Consult, with the specialty, they need.  Why?  Because I believe every single surgeon refuses to see them.  Their excuse, I think is because they didn't do the original surgery, so why should we see them. My parent should go back to where it was done, were some comments made.  Certainly more importantly, I believe all refused to offer them the treatment that is needed.  So it seems no patient is entitled to use another hospital, nor seek a second opinion/ surgical option.  I wonder, why, besides for the money do any of you surgeons see patients?  I feel like it's not because you care.  I am more than prepared and happy to have a meeting with the Director of Medical Services of Knox Hospital, to discuss what I feel is a lack of patient rights and care by doctors employed by Knox Hospital.  Where are the rights of the patients being upheld as per The Australian Health Care Charter of Victoria?  What would AHPRA think of these practices? 

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Responses

Response from Care Opinion Australia 7 years ago
Care Opinion Australia

Submitted on 22/03/2018 at 2:46 PM
Published on Care Opinion Australia at 2:46 PM

The following response has been published by Patient Opinion Australia on behalf of Knox Private Hospital:

I’m very sorry to hear that you’ve had problems getting the help you need. At Knox Private we have a complaints management process that can help sort out your issue very swiftly if you bring it to our attention. Please ask your nurse to contact me and I will come to the ward to see you, or if you prefer, you can ring me directly on 9210 7991.

Kind Regards,

Megan Mills,

Director of Nursing

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Best Practice (a carer)

Thank you very much for your kind offer Megan. After 5 days, my parent's admitting doctor has finally found another doctor in the specialty needed, who also believes that a patient is entitled to a second opinion / second surgeon to operate. It has truly only been due to their admitting doctor's unrelenting dedication, compassion, empathy and great professionalism that has finally gotten the result we need.

Rather than pin pointing those that I feel were unprofessional, uncaring, ignorant, arrogant surgeons, that I believe wanted my parent sent back to where they had the original surgery, and I felt stated repeatedly - not my / our problem. I would like to see all doctors/ surgeons reminded that they took an oath to care for all patients and reminded that everyone no matter who or how they are, have the right to a secondary opinion/ surgeon.

Sadly, it seems many doctors and other medical staff (across all specialties) think that just because a person is becoming older, they don't deserve the same care, communication, respect and dedication that a younger person is entitled to.

Could you please take this as an opportunity to please remind all staff of a patient's rights as per The Australian Health Care Charter of Victoria and their obligations to AHPRA. What would happen to my parent without their admitting doctor? Please use this as a learning curve / reminder so that a family who is unfamiliar with their rights doesn't have to be treated by or in a manner they may not wish to. Thank you again for your time.

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