Urban Nonfiction

Generally speaking, urban legends are stories about scary incidents that, if true, would impinge on a great many people. These tales, often of faceless and nameless terror, entice the reader with conspiracies that might surely affect them.

What about truth that sounds like fiction? Urban Nonfiction just doesn't have the same ring, does it? Not to strike fear into the heart of, well probably less than 10, but 'surgical accidents' are more common than you might think.

Why all the drama? Well, last week three surgical operations were performed on me. I had specifically requested one of them not be performed. Strangely enough the fault does not lie with the physician. She was not informed that I had changed my mind. When I left her office there was a question as to whether or not I wanted this procedure performed.

The surgery center called me to set up the procedure. I told them and was very clear. I don't want the [procedure].

I filled out the online form and in the space provided I wrote, "I do NOT NOT NOT want the [procedure]".

On the day of the surgery they thanked me for filling out the online form. They showed me a printed copy of it and asked me to sign.

While being prepped for surgery I got a look at the orders. I know they were orders because that is what the nurse told me they were when I asked, "what the hell is this?". There were three procedures. One was the procedure I had approved of, the second was the one I had stated twice I didn't want. The third was a scopic procedure, bascially taking pictures of the affected area.
I grabbed the nurse, pointed to the paper and said, "I do NOT want that!".

A few seconds later, or so it seemed, I remember talking to my doctor very upset. I asked if the procedure I didn't want and had now made thrice clear to the surgical center, had been performed? She indicated it had and was upset and surprised at how upset I was.

She initially thought I might just be coming out of the anesthesia hard. This was only my second time going under but in highschool I remember being upset and frightened coming out. She looked into it however and found that I had repeatedly requested through the surgical center that this not be done.

My mistake was in not taking advantage of my opportunities to speak with her the day before and day of surgery. I assumed that the surgical center would handle this appropriately and I was more focused on getting the paperwork for my job completed.

She never heard from me that I had changed my mind. In many ways I feel I have done this to myself.

In most ways I feel that the surgical center did not do their job.

I am looking into a law suit.

I get angrier every day.