Health · Mental Health · 4 hrs ago
Mother’s work commitment clashes with urgent care for her daughter
Maggie’s 17-year-old daughter had been vomiting for two days before developing pain in the center of her abdomen.
After several medical visits, a pediatric gynecologist’s scan found fluid in the girl’s abdomen and the doctor advised immediate hospital evaluation.
Maggie had already spent hours in the emergency room and missed three days of work, sleep and meals.
She asked whether a prescription could let them get a scan quickly at a private facility instead of waiting at the hospital.
The doctor said that would go against medical advice and could put her daughter at risk.
Maggie had a career-changing presentation scheduled that afternoon and asked whether the hospital visit could be finished by 5 p.m.
The account ends before giving the doctor’s response or saying what happened next.
Maggie’s 17-year-old daughter had been vomiting for two days before developing worsening abdominal pain.
After several medical visits, a pediatric gynecologist said the teen had substantial fluid in her abdomen and needed immediate hospital evaluation.
Maggie asked whether her daughter could instead get an urgent scan at a nearby private facility to avoid a long hospital wait.
The gynecologist warned that this would go against medical advice and put the daughter at risk.
Maggie also had a career-critical presentation scheduled that afternoon, after missing three days of work.
- Who
- Maggie, her 17-year-old daughter, and the daughter’s doctors.
- What
- Maggie sought urgent care for her daughter while asking whether a scan could be arranged outside the hospital.
- When
- The events unfolded over several days; the presentation was scheduled for that afternoon.
- Where
- At urgent care, a hospital emergency room, a pediatrician’s office, and a pediatric gynecologist’s office. A nearby private imaging facility was also discussed.
- Why
- The daughter had persistent abdominal pain and fluid in her abdomen. Maggie wanted to avoid another long hospital wait and had a career-critical presentation that afternoon.
Maggie
The pediatric gynecologist
Urgent imaging plan
Maggie
Maggie asked about arranging an emergency MRI or CT scan at a nearby private facility to avoid waiting in hospital hallways.
The pediatric gynecologist
The gynecologist said the daughter needed immediate evaluation in a hospital.
Risk and medical advice
Maggie
Maggie asked whether the hospital visit might be completed by 5 pm or expedited.
The pediatric gynecologist
The gynecologist said another plan would go against medical advice and put the daughter at risk.
This is day three, and you haven’t brought her in yet?
If we go to the ER you’re suggesting, do you think there’s any chance we’ll be out by 5 pm, or could you speed things along because it’s your hospital?
Maggie’s daughter vomited and could not keep food down.
The daughter developed bad pain in the center of her belly, and Maggie called the pediatrician.
Maggie took her daughter to urgent care, where staff sent them to the emergency room for evaluation for appendicitis.
After six hours in hospital, lab work showed imaging was not necessary, and Maggie and her daughter returned home at 3 am.
Maggie took her daughter to the pediatrician and then to a pediatric gynecologist, whose sonogram showed fluid in the abdomen.
- Daughter’s age
- 17
- Vomiting
- Two days before the abdominal pain worsened
- Emergency room stay
- Six hours
- Return home
- 3 am
- Work missed
- Three days
- Presentation
- Scheduled for later that afternoon
Sources
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