Can you get PTSD because of medical negligence?

Beetle · ‎15-09-2018

HI

Ong story short: I have major depression. But I also suffer from TBI. Noises and lights bother me. I feel so sensory overloaded that I often just collapse. Its very hard to live with.

My accident was 6 month ago. Since then I have experienced a lot of negligence and even though I screamed out for help I didn't get any. The accident itself I thought wasn't that bad, but we could have blown up as there was fire next to flowing oxygen.

Just throwing around ideas as I'm pretty messed up and trying to get on the right track

thanks 🙂

PamelaR · ‎19-09-2018

Hi Beetle and welcome back to our community forums.

Sorry it’s taken so long to get back to you. It’s not anything to do with your post, just the system here.

Also, I'm sorry to hear you've had an accident. From what you've described it sounds awful. Oxygen can be pretty scary stuff when it's not handled properly hey?

I’m only guessing - is your hypersensitivity to noise and light associated with a head injury?

It would be good if you could provide some more details about the accident Beetle. Are you able to tell us about it or would you prefer not to?

On the whole I’ve always found Medical services to be pretty good. We’d be interested to know happened in hospital that makes you ask if you can get PTSD from medical negligence. Are you able to tell us what happened?

Also, a little surprised if you didn’t get any after hospital care services. Are you seeing a doctor or health professional?

From some of your other posts I see that you are a first responder. Are you still in that field? Have you been able to get any assistance from your employer?

Look forward to hearing from you again when you want Beetle.

Kind regards

PamelaR

romantic_thi3f · ‎19-09-2018

Hi Beetle,

Thanks for your post.

To answer your question - yes, you can get PTSD because of medical negligence. The definition of PTSD is very broad in that it talks about our own reactions to events, not necessarily the events themselves.

If you like, you can find out some more information here -

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/types-of-anxiety/ptsd

https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/recovery/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImuSImIjG3QIViwQqCh340AHoEAAYAyAAEgJh-fD_BwE

Hopefully this gives you a good place to start - feel free to let us know more about what's going on for you and if we can help more.

baet123 · ‎19-09-2018

Hi Beetle,

Sucks that the last 6 months or so have been pretty crappy for you 😞

Yes you absolutely can get PTSD from medical negligence. If you believe that is the case, I recommend you seeing a solicitor and obtaining legal advice. You have a statute limitation period of three years from date of injury I believe. Most solicitors will provide you with a free first consultation and they will basically be able to tell you if they think you have a case or not. There is definitely some merit there from what your telling us but I recommend seeking legal advice and getting it done sooner rather than later.

Hope this helped.

All the best,

Nick.

Beetle · ‎20-09-2018

HI Pamela, Romantic and Nick

Thanks for your posts. To answer your questions Pamela: yes I sustained a head injury during a fire in the hospital. The after care was totally ignoring my injury as I was unconscious when I fell and could not remember a thing. Noone told them I hit my head. No notes about the accident. So I ended up with no instructions what to do after and went home. Few days later I got really sick could not even walk. Called ambos. ED doc was useless, dismissed my concerns about me hitting my head. his words: 'well there is nothing documented about that -aka it didn't happen". Go home and drink more water. Fast-forward 2 month in hell at home. No support no homehelp no nothing. I accidently nearly ended my own life in my garage.

I collapsed outside of my house.Managed to call ambos who came but decided I am a "druggie" his words" stop pretending being unconscious". Well DOH I could hear but not move or talk. I Feld very helpless and scared. In hospital they all went with the ambos impression and jumped on the mental health wagon and decided I needed to be in the MH ward. Remember no one bothered to ever investigate my head injury from 2 month ago. I got labeled with anxiety and PTSD ( without MH assessment). I refused to go to MH ward and demanded investigations. I did get a scan however they only agreed to it to shut me up. I did agree I was depressed but only because nobody listened or addressed the primary problem.

long story short 6 month later I get quite emotional when looking back to the non treatment I have received and I would never ever call the ambos again or go back to ED. I tried to find help and every time it got dismissed.

I have contacted a lawyer to sort through this mess as I feel I would have healed quicker if I would have received the right care and instructions in the first place.

Thanks for your time

xx