My dad is in the ER...

[Drunken Irishman]

And we don't know why. I'm working. I can't get there. My mom is without a car because he took it up there for a doctor's appointment today and they won't tell her a lick over the phone due to privacy reasons.

What I do know is that he had an appointment with the liver doctor at 9:30 this morning. By 1:30, he hadn't returned. She was obviously panicked and called me. I told her to call the doctor he was visiting just to see if he was still there. She told me they wouldn't release that information, but I said they'd at least tell you if he was there. You're not asking for results or anything. So she did and the receptionist there looked around and finally came back to her and told her that she was connecting her to someone who knew.

So they did and it was the ER at the VA. They said that he was 'fine' and then gave him the phone. He seemed out of it. Was connected to a lot of tubes. Didn't even know he was in the ER. My mom tried asking him what happened, but all he remembers is that they had to do some tests - or so he says. She then asked if the nurse could tell her what was going on and at that point, overhearing my clearly nervous mom, cut the conversation short by telling my dad to, in a snippy voice, "let your wife go because we're moving you..."

That was about an hour ago. She said she'll call again at 3 (at the moment, it's 2:50). I don't know what to think. I don't know why they can't tell her anything if he proves to them that she is his wife.

And worst of all, he has their car and she's stuck at home with no way up there.

At least until I get off.

But by then, who knows if they'll have admitted him, released him or if...which I doubt...he's died.

Anyway, just had to vent a little.

[Call Me Wesley]

1. Good vibes for your dad, you and your mom.

Hang in there.

[one_voice]

2. This has to be awful....

not too mention scary for both you and your mother. Could your dad tell the hospital it's ok to release information to her over the phone? He could sign something so she's not sitting there worried out of her mind.

Healing vibes to your family. I hope everything turns out ok.

My father in law has cirrhosis and is in very bad shape, so I know how scary it can be. :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I am so sorry. *hugs* I hate when people give me the run-around like that.

[grasswire]

4. could she take a cab?

Or maybe you could get off work a little bit early?

I'd be raising hell, I think. I'd call the ER and ask to speak to the doctor.

[Blue-Jay]

5. Good mojo.

Hopefully everything is under control.

[hedgehog]

6. Where's the patient ombudsman? There must be at least one person at the hospital who

is in charge of contacting family. Try calling the hospital chaplain.

[LisaM]

7. This is terrible

Sometimes the results of these privacy laws are very unfortunate. My FIL had Alzheimer's and no one was allowed to contact anyone in his family to tell him (he was widowed). Meanwhile, he's living alone at home. Finally, one of his daughters was with him at a doctor's appointment for something else, and the doctor found a way to bend the rules by saying, "Well, Norm, of course we both know that you have Alzheimer's". First anyone else had heard of it but that was the only way they could communicate it to the family.

I hope your father is okay.

[revolution breeze]

8. Lots of good vibes heading your dad's way.

Please update us! I understand privacy laws but this is a travesty. The doctor's staff should have contacted your mother as soon as he was sent to the emergency room. God forbid something happen, who would be there to make medical decisions! When this all said and done, you need to be chewing some doctor's ass!

[applegrove]

9. vibes.

[JohnnyLib2]

10. That's the pits.

Many good vibes, and please update when you can.

[supernova]

11. You all are in my thoughts

:hug:

[bigwillq]

12. I hope he's ok.

Sending my best vibes. :hug:

[Drunken Irishman]

13. Well he's at home.

That's all I'm going to say. It's too embarrassing. :(

[rurallib]

14. hope all is OK.

Glad to hear he is home.