My dad was having problems with his prostate and after several Dr?s visits he was told he had to remove his prostate. He is not one to go see a Dr as he has been devoid of any health problems, and at his 75 years had never been hospitalized. Stubborn as he has become and against his friend?s advice (a Dr himself) he decided to have his prostate removed. I was already headed down on vacation and without prior notice he plans this surgery during my visit.
Though he was treated very well by the physician and the staff, the entire process, hospitalization, care, prescriptions, surgery were very different from any conventional healthcare provider in the US.
$5000+US, three months later and 20lbs lighter, my dad is still having ?side effects? and is deteriorating. The Doctor, of course, refers him to other specialists and insists that he has recovered from prostate surgery and is having other "unrelated" complications. After dad confesses to 2 weeks of diarrhea I board the first plane to Santiago where he awaits at the boarding area in a wheelchair! We immediately fly to the US where I drive straight to the emergency room and he is promptly admitted.
Long story short(er)? The Doctors examination and review of the paperwork from DomRep reveal that dad has rectal cancer and NOT prostate cancer. They are baffled as to how this Physician could not have seen the almost 5? tumor at the end of his colon, precisely below where the prostate was sitting.
Dad has had surgery to repair another complication and now has to go through radiation, possibly chemo and more surgery to try and remove the tumor at his advanced age.
Despite my dads (previous) healthy status these therapies are severe, especially, for someone his age.
I don?t know how to deal or proceed with this ?Physician? right now as I am focused on dad's recovery and I know we don?t have any recourse. He has a pretty solid reputation but I can?t help but feel that he knew what he saw when he cut dad open and he made a conscious, erroneous and careless decision.
I am devastated, We are devastated.
Though he was treated very well by the physician and the staff, the entire process, hospitalization, care, prescriptions, surgery were very different from any conventional healthcare provider in the US.
$5000+US, three months later and 20lbs lighter, my dad is still having ?side effects? and is deteriorating. The Doctor, of course, refers him to other specialists and insists that he has recovered from prostate surgery and is having other "unrelated" complications. After dad confesses to 2 weeks of diarrhea I board the first plane to Santiago where he awaits at the boarding area in a wheelchair! We immediately fly to the US where I drive straight to the emergency room and he is promptly admitted.
Long story short(er)? The Doctors examination and review of the paperwork from DomRep reveal that dad has rectal cancer and NOT prostate cancer. They are baffled as to how this Physician could not have seen the almost 5? tumor at the end of his colon, precisely below where the prostate was sitting.
Dad has had surgery to repair another complication and now has to go through radiation, possibly chemo and more surgery to try and remove the tumor at his advanced age.
Despite my dads (previous) healthy status these therapies are severe, especially, for someone his age.
I don?t know how to deal or proceed with this ?Physician? right now as I am focused on dad's recovery and I know we don?t have any recourse. He has a pretty solid reputation but I can?t help but feel that he knew what he saw when he cut dad open and he made a conscious, erroneous and careless decision.
I am devastated, We are devastated.