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05-20-2005, 08:03 PM

Don't kid yourself...there's ALWAYS room for mistakes~human error. Happens ALL the time, despite the innumerable checks, re-check, "what's your name" "what's your b-day" confirmation. We are all fallible, including our oncs, including our nurses...How many times a day does your own mind wander, even just a little bit, while you're working?
It can happen in a private practice pharmacy (yep, happened there too-my bag of drug came out & they were getting ready to hang it, but the 500cc bag was only 1/2 full-the pharmasist forgot to mix the saline w/the drug before sealing the combo & sending it out. Atleast that time, the mistake was caught BEFORE the first drip dropped), and it can happen in a big Cancer center.The reality is, your onc nor YOU should not have to double check the pharmacist's work or the nurses work IF THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOBS PROPERLY!
Believe me, I was pi**ed!!! This mistake was due to a too hasty interpretation of my treatment order & flow sheet when I switched from weekly Herceptin to the new combo of q3weekly Abraxane+q3weekly Herceptin.Ultimately it was the PA who came forward & admitted fault-she made a mistake transcribing the order from my chart to the order/flowsheet...simple human error, with major potential ramifications.
There were many occassions for many different clinicians to assess the dosages & notice that they were disproportionate. Thank God for Jill, the nurse that finally looked & questioned the regimen.
Even though the clinical managers have been very apologetic, readily acknowleged their oversite & have been very orthcoming with assisting me straighten this out, I'm still pursuing reparations. I don't believe that I should have to pay for a treatment regimen & service that I did agree to, that was ineffective,has potentially jeopardized my health & now requires addtional chemo.
I wish I didn't have to, but I command my treatment, rather than sitting & making happy polite conversation or watching Oprah.I confirm which labs are being drawn & ask that they start my Herceptin while we wait for lab results. Every time a bag of drug comes out, they confirm my name & dob, & I confirm the order & check the volume of each bag.Now I'm waiting for someone to pay ME for doing their job too...
When you get to our level of complex care, there's bound to be mistakes. Most times, you are none the wiser...

05-20-2005, 08:03 PM	#7
jessica Guest Posts: n/a	Don't kid yourself...there's ALWAYS room for mistakes~human error. Happens ALL the time, despite the innumerable checks, re-check, "what's your name" "what's your b-day" confirmation. We are all fallible, including our oncs, including our nurses...How many times a day does your own mind wander, even just a little bit, while you're working? It can happen in a private practice pharmacy (yep, happened there too-my bag of drug came out & they were getting ready to hang it, but the 500cc bag was only 1/2 full-the pharmasist forgot to mix the saline w/the drug before sealing the combo & sending it out. Atleast that time, the mistake was caught BEFORE the first drip dropped), and it can happen in a big Cancer center.The reality is, your onc nor YOU should not have to double check the pharmacist's work or the nurses work IF THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOBS PROPERLY! Believe me, I was pi**ed!!! This mistake was due to a too hasty interpretation of my treatment order & flow sheet when I switched from weekly Herceptin to the new combo of q3weekly Abraxane+q3weekly Herceptin.Ultimately it was the PA who came forward & admitted fault-she made a mistake transcribing the order from my chart to the order/flowsheet...simple human error, with major potential ramifications. There were many occassions for many different clinicians to assess the dosages & notice that they were disproportionate. Thank God for Jill, the nurse that finally looked & questioned the regimen. Even though the clinical managers have been very apologetic, readily acknowleged their oversite & have been very orthcoming with assisting me straighten this out, I'm still pursuing reparations. I don't believe that I should have to pay for a treatment regimen & service that I did agree to, that was ineffective,has potentially jeopardized my health & now requires addtional chemo. I wish I didn't have to, but I command my treatment, rather than sitting & making happy polite conversation or watching Oprah.I confirm which labs are being drawn & ask that they start my Herceptin while we wait for lab results. Every time a bag of drug comes out, they confirm my name & dob, & I confirm the order & check the volume of each bag.Now I'm waiting for someone to pay ME for doing their job too... When you get to our level of complex care, there's bound to be mistakes. Most times, you are none the wiser...