**Letter of Complaint to South Coast Private Hospital**
Greetings,
I am writing to bring to your attention the concerning experience I had with Dr. Lal during my stay at South Coast Private Hospital. I hope that by sharing my experience, similar situations can be prevented for future patients.
**Initial Assessment and Medication Concerns**
During my initial assessment, I expressed to Dr. Lal my desire to address stress-related trauma and use my time at the hospital as an opportunity to cease marijuana use. With 12 years of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous and having already joined Marijuana Anonymous, I was ready to start the program after completing detox. However, Dr. Lal did not prioritize addressing my trauma, which was my main concern.
Upon admission, my diazepam prescription was increased from 1-3 PRN to 2 TID to aid THC detox. An additional prescription of mirtazapine was suggested to increase my appetite, despite my concerns about combining it with my current 300mg dose of Effexor. Dr. Lal assured me it was safe. I also informed Dr. Lal of my preference for natural sleep processing through guided meditations, yet I was prescribed medication for sleep aid, which went against my wishes.
**Side Effects and Medication Adjustments**
In the following days, I struggled with concentration and felt excessively groggy. During my next appointment, I requested that the diazepam be adjusted to PRN, which helped my concentration temporarily. However, the mirtazapine caused drowsiness, so I avoided taking diazepam and hence, after 36 hours began experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
When I discussed the medication issues with Dr. Lal at my subsequent appointment, he admitted to forgetting about the diazepam while prescribing mirtazapine, apologized, and then withdrew the mirtazapine from my medication list. Unfortunately, this led to migraine headaches and mania as a side effect of the mirtazapine withdrawal.
**Final Appointment and Discharge**
I was five minutes late to my final visit, scheduled for 5:15 pm. I waited until 5:45 PM for Dr. Lal. Despite being booked at 1715, the same time as another patient, Dr. Lal did not reappear from his office to see if I was waiting. At 6:15 pm I went to dinner in a nearby area with the client that came out of Dr Lal’s office. We could see where Dr. Lal would exit to collect me, however, he did not come out of his office. At 6.15 pm he called me and wanted me to attend immediately. His demeanor was rude, and he seemed frustrated that I was eating. I explained I needed to finish my meal, to which he reluctantly agreed and then hung up.
Upon finishing my meal, I went to see Dr. Lal. When asked how I was, I replied, "Not great," and was abruptly informed that I was discharged for being late to the appointment. I was consequently shocked as I received no further explanation as to why I was being discharged.
I did not say “You kept me waiting an hour and a half” or “You poisoned me” as he states. At no stage have I said that. Rather, I have said on many occasions that he gave me the wrong medication.
Feeling mistreated, I walked out, then returned to his office door and I said that he had made my condition worse, not better. He responded by turning to his computer and typing angrily.
**Aftermath and Emotional Impact**
In a state of disbelief, I shared my experience with the staff, but they were skeptical and did not believe this could happen. They began verifying the information. I retreated to my room, feeling angry and disappointed, as I had been progressing positively until this incident. I did not create a scene, contrary to Dr.Lal's discharge summary, which I found defamatory, insulting, and predominately untrue.
The medication chart will reflect the medication errors and the subsequent withdrawal effects I experienced. I urge an investigation into these facts to prevent future occurrences.
After discharge, I was awake in a manic state for 3 days. My coordination, thinking, and balance were all affected, and I found it hard to function. My blood pressure kept skyrocketing and eventually, I rang an ambulance, expecting to be readmitted for monitoring. I have records, photos, and videos of my blood pressure readings.
It has taken approximately 2 weeks to regain the physical coordination and mental clarity from withdrawing from the mirtazapine unassisted. I even rang your facility several times in desperation over the weekend, but no one would offer any assistance. I therefore went to the Wollongong Emergency Department.
My experience has not only been distressing on a personal level but has also adversely impacted my reputation as a patient within your care. Unfortunately, this tarnished reputation is unjustifiable and threatens my ability to access necessary medical services moving forward, both at your institution and potentially elsewhere.
I believe healthcare institutions must uphold the highest standards of patient care, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and compassion. In sharing my experience, I hope to shed light on the shortcomings that may exist within your system, contributing to improvements that serve both current and future patients.
Additionally, I would like to kindly request a review of my case and the issues surrounding my treatment. A positive restoration of my reputation would greatly alleviate the distress caused by this situation and reinforce the commitment of your institution to patient welfare and integrity.
Thank you for considering my concerns. I would appreciate feedback at your earliest convenience, as I am eager to resolve these matters constructively.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Dunkley
PDFClean.ai
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Open**Letter of Complaint to South Coast Private Hospital** Greetings, I am writing to bring to your attention the concerning experience I had with Dr. Lal during my stay at South Coast Private Hospital. I hope that by sharing my experience, similar situations can be prevented for future patients. **Initial Assessment and Medication Concerns** During my initial assessment, I expressed to Dr. Lal my desire to address stress-related trauma and use my time at the hospital as an opportunity to cease marijuana use. With 12 years of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous and having already joined Marijuana Anonymous, I was ready to start the program after completing detox. However, Dr. Lal did not prioritize addressing my trauma, which was my main concern. Upon admission, my diazepam prescription was increased from 1-3 PRN to 2 TID to aid THC detox. An additional prescription of mirtazapine was suggested to increase my appetite, despite my concerns about combining it with my current 300mg dose of Effexor. Dr. Lal assured me it was safe. I also informed Dr. Lal of my preference for natural sleep processing through guided meditations, yet I was prescribed medication for sleep aid, which went against my wishes. **Side Effects and Medication Adjustments** In the following days, I struggled with concentration and felt excessively groggy. During my next appointment, I requested that the diazepam be adjusted to PRN, which helped my concentration temporarily. However, the mirtazapine caused drowsiness, so I avoided taking diazepam and hence, after 36 hours began experiencing withdrawal symptoms. When I discussed the medication issues with Dr. Lal at my subsequent appointment, he admitted to forgetting about the diazepam while prescribing mirtazapine, apologized, and then withdrew the mirtazapine from my medication list. Unfortunately, this led to migraine headaches and mania as a side effect of the mirtazapine withdrawal. **Final Appointment and Discharge** I was five minutes late to my final visit, scheduled for 5:15 pm. I waited until 5:45 PM for Dr. Lal. Despite being booked at 1715, the same time as another patient, Dr. Lal did not reappear from his office to see if I was waiting. At 6:15 pm I went to dinner in a nearby area with the client that came out of Dr Lal’s office. We could see where Dr. Lal would exit to collect me, however, he did not come out of his office. At 6.15 pm he called me and wanted me to attend immediately. His demeanor was rude, and he seemed frustrated that I was eating. I explained I needed to finish my meal, to which he reluctantly agreed and then hung up. Upon finishing my meal, I went to see Dr. Lal. When asked how I was, I replied, "Not great," and was abruptly informed that I was discharged for being late to the appointment. I was consequently shocked as I received no further explanation as to why I was being discharged. I did not say “You kept me waiting an hour and a half” or “You poisoned me” as he states. At no stage have I said that. Rather, I have said on many occasions that he gave me the wrong medication. Feeling mistreated, I walked out, then returned to his office door and I said that he had made my condition worse, not better. He responded by turning to his computer and typing angrily. **Aftermath and Emotional Impact** In a state of disbelief, I shared my experience with the staff, but they were skeptical and did not believe this could happen. They began verifying the information. I retreated to my room, feeling angry and disappointed, as I had been progressing positively until this incident. I did not create a scene, contrary to Dr.Lal's discharge summary, which I found defamatory, insulting, and predominately untrue. The medication chart will reflect the medication errors and the subsequent withdrawal effects I experienced. I urge an investigation into these facts to prevent future occurrences. After discharge, I was awake in a manic state for 3 days. My coordination, thinking, and balance were all affected, and I found it hard to function. My blood pressure kept skyrocketing and eventually, I rang an ambulance, expecting to be readmitted for monitoring. I have records, photos, and videos of my blood pressure readings. It has taken approximately 2 weeks to regain the physical coordination and mental clarity from withdrawing from the mirtazapine unassisted. I even rang your facility several times in desperation over the weekend, but no one would offer any assistance. I therefore went to the Wollongong Emergency Department. My experience has not only been distressing on a personal level but has also adversely impacted my reputation as a patient within your care. Unfortunately, this tarnished reputation is unjustifiable and threatens my ability to access necessary medical services moving forward, both at your institution and potentially elsewhere. I believe healthcare institutions must uphold the highest standards of patient care, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and compassion. In sharing my experience, I hope to shed light on the shortcomings that may exist within your system, contributing to improvements that serve both current and future patients. Additionally, I would like to kindly request a review of my case and the issues surrounding my treatment. A positive restoration of my reputation would greatly alleviate the distress caused by this situation and reinforce the commitment of your institution to patient welfare and integrity. Thank you for considering my concerns. I would appreciate feedback at your earliest convenience, as I am eager to resolve these matters constructively. Sincerely, Jennifer Dunkley
