I wrote on DU last week that my husband

[firenewt]

66. My mother was killed by a hospital as well. The entire saga of her care was a disaster. She had

stomach cancer. Her first surgery was done the day after Christmas. We had to do everything she needed after surgery - very few staff due to the holiday week. Nurses told us what to do for her surgical drain, wound care, IV's and whatnot. It took 12 hours before we finally got her pain meds - she was in agony after having 90% of her stomach removed. She did make it out of the hospital but her prognosis was fair to good.. A year later she was readmitted due to an inability to eat. The idea was so administer a complete nutrient fluid by IV to increase her strength so further treatment could proceed. Her oncologist never saw her in the hospital - on vacation and made no arrangement for another doc to follow her progress. My mom's kidneys were not working well, but were working. They didn't measure her urine output and continued to force the IV nutrients into her body. I was screaming bloody hell about this - all I got was a condescending pat on the head. Her lungs filled with fluid and she basically drown. Her oncologist saw her the day she died. I cornered him in the hall and blasted him - told him I knew what killed her and it wasn't her cancer. He didn't utter a word in denial or defense.

I understand what you are feeling and offer my condolences. Time will lessen the pain, but you never get over the disgust you have for many in the medical field. May you achieve some degree of peace.