Dear Editor,
Recently my over-90 friend was admitted to the hospital in the morning hours suffering with very high blood pressure, severe chest pain and body weakness. When questioned by the doctor as to why she was there she related all her symptoms and was told not to worry about blood pressure, because it doesn't count with old people and then he left, not to be seen again. She was given nitro twice and hydramorphine for pain.
After lunch she was told the doctor had discharged her. An ambulance transfer was arranged to take her home some time in the late afternoon. She was taken out of her room, placed in the hallway where she was left to change to her clothes. She was not granted 5 minutes to change in her room. She was unable to leave her bed (bars still up and no call bell).
The hospital transfer staff helped her to finish dressing and located a nurse to remove the IV. These gentlemen deserve a huge thank you.
No one expects to be treated with such indifference in ER. It was a most difficult and disturbing experience for her.
Mary Kozak, Murrayville
