3 months later fighting with the hospital

[BillOh 13]

Just wanted to add a 3 month follow up. My surgery went great, the doctor and the bariatric program were great, but the hospital's anesthesia team were a bunch of snakes in the grass. When I woke up in recovery, the Anesthesioligist told me they chipped a tooth removing the breathing tube and that a dentist would visit me before discharge to get it taken care of. I forgot about it and called the hospital several days later. The hospital's customer service department was slow to respond and I felt ignored. When I pressed the issue the Anesthesia Dept called back and tried to make me believe nothing happened. They actually made up things that if it went to court I could prove were lies. We aren't talking mistakes or documentation errors here, we are talking fraud. They told me that I was given an oral examination prior to being put under and chipped teeth were noted in an evaluation. I quickly replied that this didn't happen and why would you do such an evaluation and then not have the patient sign it? They also told me the report from the surgery reported, "No problems, smooth anesthesia process"

Fortunately I had two things going for me. First the Surgeon came out and told my wife about the chipped teeth. Second, I haven't missed a checkup with my dentist in 25 years, no my dental record is complete.

Only after getting statements from my surgeon and photo and written documentation from my dentist did they concede responsibility. They did $2000 damage to my teeth. At this point I am not going to name the hospital, because they are going to pay up and every other part of the surgery including the results, has been wonderful. I'll follow up when the work is done, but if this happens to you, don't let them discharge you till its fixed, or you get the intention to fix in writing.

[DENTALSPIT 0]

I work in a dental office and the hospital close to me break teeth and lose dentures all the time. Stick to your guns i'm sure they did it.

[HeatherO 7]

That is crazy and I am sorry you are going through it.

Also, how aggressive would they have to be in removing a breathing tube to chip a tooth??? I would think under normal circumstances, anyone using a little care when removing it would never chip a tooth.

I would certainly pursue it. Good luck.

[BillOh 13]

That is crazy and I am sorry you are going through it.

Also, how aggressive would they have to be in removing a breathing tube to chip a tooth??? I would think under normal circumstances, anyone using a little care when removing it would never chip a tooth.

I would certainly pursue it. Good luck.

Thank you for your concern. I should clarify one thing. They broke two porcelin crowns. I don't know if they are easier to break or not, but my dentist was still pretty alarmed. This does explain the cost to some extent though. I also want to add that this was my first ever surgery and the anesthisa team made me feel really comfortable and the surgery was a good experience.

Edited March 19, 2009 by BillOh

[plain 12]

That is crazy and I am sorry you are going through it.

Also, how aggressive would they have to be in removing a breathing tube to chip a tooth??? I would think under normal circumstances, anyone using a little care when removing it would never chip a tooth.

I would certainly pursue it. Good luck.

They probably chipped to crowns when they were intubating (putting the tube in). There's a tool that you have to use that can chip teeth pretty easily if you're not good at it (like me *brag*). So that's where it all probably went down. Highly unlikely that it happened upon extubation (pulling the tube out).

[BillOh 13]

They probably chipped to crowns when they were intubating (putting the tube in). There's a tool that you have to use that can chip teeth pretty easily if you're not good at it (like me *brag*). So that's where it all probably went down. Highly unlikely that it happened upon extubation (pulling the tube out).

Thanks for the insight.

[BillOh 13]

Update:

The hospital kept giving me the run around. I finally had my dentist take photos and describe the damage as well as document my dental care. Still, it took a letter by me stating that I was going on vacation on April 6th and I wanted an answer by then or I was going to persue other actions. That did it, they agreed to pay for the dental work at my dentist! My vacation date came and left, but they have agreed to pay and are making arrangements, slowly, with my dentist. The work should be done soon.

[BillOh 13]

I wanted to follow up. After 4 months of fighting the hospital, they sent me dentist a check to have both crowns replaced. I'll have the work done in a couple of weeks. I really had to stay after them and keep hounding, but it got done.