I can't throw out a tabby thing!

I'm reading tabby as the feline markings, and thinking, "cats aren't so good at the organization - they'll file their hairballs ANYWHERE."

Kat, I have no idea what I would want done. So the letter feels merely informational. If they decide they want to discipline him in any way for behaviour like that, I want them to know about it...other than that, I feel empty.

There really should be (though I guess I'd prefer if there were no need) a patient advocate for when you're steamed and the doctor's being pissy, and heads are getting butted. Someone with a bit more distance. I'm glad I had my friend there with me for more reasons than one, but talking me down was a biggie. You've been going through daily stress for weeks and weeks. That's just not right.

How's this version of the letter?

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to complain about the treatment I received in your hospital on Thursday the 14th of June, 2007 at the hands of Dr. [asshole]. I entered the Emergency Room seeking pain treatment for one of my chronic and intractable migraines. I am seeing a number of specialists to manage them, and my neurologist and migraine specialist have agreed upon the ER protocol of augmenting any narcotics with an anti-histamine, an anti-inflammatory, and subcutaneous Imitrex in order to limit the amount of narcotics required to provide optimal relief. I have received this treatment before in your Emergency Room, and have responded well to it.

Although Dr [asshole] stated that he was aligned with my goals of pain reduction while minimizing the chances of developing a dependency on painkillers, he refused to administer this protocol. Based on a cursory conversation with me and an assessment performed through curtains while he was stitching up a screaming patient in the bed next to mine he decided to only administer Dilaudid, which proved ultimately unable to reduce my 9.5 intensity neck and shoulder pain beyond 8.5, nor my migraine itself from 7.5 to below 7.

Because of your efficiency and professionalism Culver City Doctor’s Hospital has been my Emergency Room of choice for the regrettable incidences when I must seek such care. However my displeasure at this most recent visit exceeds what I can convey with your standard satisfaction survey.

If I should need to seek ER treatment for my chronic pain again I will not come back to your hospital without first checking to make sure that Dr. [asshole] is not on duty. Such visits are already inherently stressful, and his dismissive and challenging treatment of both me and my friend in attendance left me in almost as much pain as I had come in with, despite the administration of narcotics.

It's not so much fear of the procedures (they suck, I endure,) it's the ...judgement? Authority? Hell if I know exactly. I wish machines did all the work, not people. Oh well, I'll just have to get over myself and endure....

I believe you, but...tabby thing.

I know! And that is the way they taught me in school! But I don't know why!

I'm reading tabby as the feline markings, and thinking, "cats aren't so good at the organization - they'll file their hairballs ANYWHERE.

Plus, if I get bored with filing a third of the way through? Whiskers ain't gonna make it through 2.

ita, I think that letter sounds pretty good - I thought it did a much better job of explaining what happened to you.

eta: I'm not sure this is necessary, but I might add one sentence saying something like, "My purpose in sending this letter is to inform you of the type of treatment I received at your hospital on [date]." Makes the implicit explicit, although that is a matter of style/choice.

ita, I am enraged by your treatment.

Kat, can I come visit Graciegirl on Sunday?

I just got my dad his combo father's day/birthday gift. Three tickets to the zoo, and tickets to Canobie Lake amusement park.

It's stuff he can do with my mom and his grandson, so he should be stoked. I hope.

Oh, one question, ita: Century or Culver?

I like that letter.

Excellent letter. Very clear about what happened and why it's a problem.