Bungled Operation in Bali

[Vanhelsing]

Has anyone had an operation or required serious medical care of any sort in Indonesia? I'm afraid given the choice I'd rather avoid it.

The bungled hernia procedure has left 39-year-old sub sea engineer Steven Didmon on a ventilator in Bali, prompting warnings from experts on the risks of undergoing surgery overseas.

A team of doctors and support staff gave my son CPR for two hours whilst ventilating him, after two hours of his heart constantly stopping they finally stabilised him."

"Steven was on life support for a week and a half ... his kidneys are not functioning properly, his lungs were also not functioning properly and he was breathing assisted with a ventilator tube for 2 1/2 weeks."

We are of the opinion that we've got to bring him home , his family's all here, other than his wife and we need him to be here where he's going to get first class attention,"....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/20...-indonesia-sparks-overseas-health_a_23054937/

 

[Jaime C]

While I agree that Indonesia has problems with it's healthcare, I think 80-90% of care is at or near international levels at bigger hospitals. If it's a severe case, Thailand, Singapore or Malaysia may be a better choice.

 

[Anglian]

Well mishaps happen, in the U.K. I had my tonsils out, twice, my poor old mum , bless her, had her jaw chipped on the removal of an impacted molar, took them a year to figure that out,
Here I had gall stones removed about a month later I had stomach and pains over my kidneys, they did a USG scan and said I had Gall stones, sorry just had those removed, anyway I saw another specialist, who seeing the rash said,oh you've got Herpes, I was quite shocked but they call Shingles Herpes, as the cannot pronounce Shingles, in general though I've had good treatment for my stones, and I've had a few,

But here is an odd story, one of my Daughters friends from university father was a judge, he was sent to Bali and was presiding on a case, during the trial he was taken quite ill and admitted to hospital, he sugar level was very high, while he was being treated a doctor he hadn't seen before came in and gave him an injection directly into his stomach, he told his wife it was very painful, he died shortly after, nobody recognised the doctor and no injection was prescribed, no other action was taken

 

[Balilongtime]

This can happen anywhere , an Australian guy I know went heli-skiing in Alaska around last xmas and broke his femur. He is very well off financially and had the best insurance coverage available.
He was eventually flown to a private hospital in Seattle where a huge steel plate was put in his leg to set the bone ...,

Now 8 months later he cannot walk properly, so he has just had many tests and scans done and seen one of Australias best orthapedic specialist who declared the bone had been set many degrees out of shape from the US opperation and thats why he couldnt walk properly. Right now he is booked in to have his femur bone re-broken in Australia so that it can be set properly this time around.

 

[William King]

But here is an odd story, one of my Daughters friends from university father was a judge, he was sent to Bali and was presiding on a case, during the trial he was taken quite ill and admitted to hospital, he sugar level was very high, while he was being treated a doctor he hadn't seen before came in and gave him an injection directly into his stomach, he told his wife it was very painful, he died shortly after, nobody recognised the doctor and no injection was prescribed, no other action was taken

Wow. James bond stuff.... but this is Indoensia, so entirely believable. i clicked dislike on your post because clicking like, agree or laughing seemed inappropriate.

 

[Davita]

But here is an odd story, one of my Daughters friends from university father was a judge, he was sent to Bali and was presiding on a case, during the trial he was taken quite ill and admitted to hospital, he sugar level was very high, while he was being treated a doctor he hadn't seen before came in and gave him an injection directly into his stomach, he told his wife it was very painful, he died shortly after, nobody recognised the doctor and no injection was prescribed, no other action was taken

As I read this I was thinking of the senior judge in the Ahok case who was promoted and supposed to come to Bali...sadly, it seems to have been a different judge.

 

[Anglian]

I was going to ask further, but the young lady was very upset, one about her fathers death also it appears she had to put her wedding off for one year due to his death, I didn't know that was a tradition , I would have loved to have found out more, mind it could just be a mistaken identity, wrong patient, I sure the hospital would keep that quiet

 

[Davita]

According to the link this patient had a violent reaction to the epidural anesthetic. He must have agreed to have an epidural otherwise it isn't used.
I had one of those 18 months ago and had no reaction....so did some searching.
It appears to be very rare and can be caused by the anesthetist inserting the tube, or the needle, in the wrong area.
It can also be caused by the patient taking medications/drugs and not supplying that information to the anesthetist...I recall having to sign a form describing all my medications and allergies. I said I was allergic to PAIN.

The reason for this reaction needs to be ascertained and, if the responsibility of the hospital, then the hospital needs to assume liability.

 

[Anglian]

As a matter of interest how do you sue a hospital, do you have to go to the police, or a lawyer, as it seems the police have their finger in any pie that smell of money, I'm just wondering

 

[lifelongexpat]

As a matter of interest how do you sue a hospital, do you have to go to the police, or a lawyer, as it seems the police have their finger in any pie that smell of money, I'm just wondering

Approaching a lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice would be your best bet.

 

[Davita]

Siloam are the biggest medical facility in Indonesia and a member of the conglomerate Lippo Group. They are also Internationally accredited.
If I were the family of this unfortunate young man I'd want a full report on what caused his medical condition.
If liability is accepted then perhaps a lawyer experienced in medical law, as lifelongexpat suggests, is required to determine what remedy is appropriate.

The last thing I'd do is go to any media and talk without reading that full report. The only need for litigation, or using the media to discredit the hospital, is when one isn't satisfied with the answers....or financial remedy.

 

[William King]

Has anyone had an operation or required serious medical care of any sort in Indonesia?

an emergency appendix operation.

 

[Vanhelsing]

an emergency appendix operation.

I take it the operation went well. You didn't come out minus an appendage as well as an appendix?

Which came first, the use of the word appendix as in the addition to a book, or term given to the human organ? I'm very glad you asked.

appendix (n.)
1540s, "subjoined addition to a document or book," from Latin appendix "an addition, continuation, something attached," from appendere "cause to hang (from something)," from ad "to" (see ad-) + pendere "to hang" (from PIE root *(s)pen- "to draw, stretch, spin"). Used for "small outgrowth of an internal organ" from 1610s, especially in reference to the vermiform appendix.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=appendix

 

[William King]

I take it the operation went well. You didn't come out minus an appendage as well as an appendix?

I think so, I havent check though...

 

[Vanhelsing]

I think so, I havent check though...

I thought you may have noticed requiring one less flipflop or the sudden inability to steer your scooter effectively should you have lost an arm or a leg.

 

[William King]

You would think so... but then again...

 

[Anglian]

When I had my gall stones out, the operation was 45 minutes longer as they had a problem, I could view the video they gave me to see what the problem was, but nobody wants to watch it, but the surgeon said the operation normally takes 45 minutes, cost 45 million but as it was 45 minutes longer that will be 90 million, I thought about having a heart attack at the cost but decided I couldn't afford it

 

[Jaime C]

My wife had a C-section. I've had minor surgery in Bandung. Lots of doctor visits, blood tests, dentistry, etc. Mostly good experiences.

I've had major surgery in Thailand. Also, worked well, but I've never had a surgery estimate that was even close. Always 20-50% above estimates.

 

[Davita]

I've written extensively about my two operations in Prima Medika Hospital in Bali in the last 18 months on my blog so wont repeat that...anyone can read there...(Colonoscopy)

I originally went to Siloam on Sunset as it's near my villa and is a new hospital. We got to know our Internist (GP) and he said he also consulted out of Prima Medika. When I found his visit cost there was half that in Siloam we changed hospitals but saw the same doctor.
I'm too old to have affordable medical insurance so I self-insure. If I had medical insurance I may have a different approach to medical care.
I found the Siloam system more like a 'for profit' business and Prima Medika more of a 'family-type' hospital. Prime Medika buildings look old, and a bit tired, but the cost of everything is considerably cheaper than elsewhere and the nursing/admin staff are extremely friendly.
The Oncologist Dept. (cancer) is the foremost in Bali and Oncology Professor Tjakra is an owner of the hospital.
They have a new wing which I believe is for obstetrics, so I wasn't invited there....

Although all Bali hospitals have their own laboritorium .....for any lab work like blood tests etc. I highly recommend Prodia Lab on Jl. Diponegoro 192.
and for the cheapest prescription medicine...Apotek Adhi Guna Farma 2 on Jl.May.Jend. Sutoyo 45.

 

[waarmstrong]

A few days ago had our 80+ mother (in-law) into Siloam in the Kalibata area of Jakarta where her two painful kidney stones were blasted into small, passable pieces. No complications, very professional and courteous staff and doctors, and not particularly costly. Ibu refused, as unnecessary, the pain meds she was sent home with.