Pie Darkstone
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October 30, 2014
Dr. xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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RE: October 15 Appointment Presenting
with Bat Attack/Rabies Exposure
Dear Dr. Xxxx,
I visited your office the day following
a bat attack. You briefly looked through my hair on the side of my
head and found one small scratch.You told me at that time my exposure
to rabies presented an insignificant risk. You told me it had been 30
years or more since you'd had to deal with rabies and knew that your
office didn't keep the vaccine on hand. I was told to go home and
wait to be contacted by your nurse by that Friday.
I was indeed contacted by your nurse on
Friday, October 17, at 11:49AM—eleven minutes before your office
closed for the day and for the weekend. She gave me the name, XXXX XXXX, and the phone number to the health department. I later found
out that XXXX XXXX is “The Rabies Man” at the county health
department office. I had to call him myself in order to reach him, he
then immediately returned my call.
I told Mr. XXXX I had been attacked by
a bat on October 14 at 2:30AM. His response was, “OH DEAR LORD!
Drop what you are doing right this minute and go to XXXXXXX's
Emergency Room—they are the only location here with the vaccine.
Don't waste any time, go there NOW! There is a very short window of
time to get treatment, GO NOW! I will call you later this evening to
follow up. GO NOW!” I am not exaggerating his response in the
least. He was very brief, very terse, and where I have used capital
letters, was practically shouting into the phone.
I went immediately to XXXXXXX's ER.
Initially I was told that I was already out of time, that I was no
longer in the protocol window for optimal treatment. Treatment should
begin within 72 hours. I demanded the shots, saying,”You're going
to doom me to rabies because I'm a few hours late? You're kidding me,
right? Give me the shots. Now.” I got the shots. I hope they work,
that's all I CAN do, since you should have sent me for treatment
IMMEDIATELY, the very day I came to see you.
Before treatment began I was given a
pain pill and an anti-nausea drug. The ER nurses then went through
the entire side of my head with a fine toothed comb and a magnifying
glass. They found multiple bites and scratches, at least one of the
wounds being “very deep.” Each bite or scratch had to be injected
with immunoglobulin, using up 3 syringes in the process, and was
extremely painful. The remaining 9 syringes of immunoglobulin was
injected into my thigh. I then got one vial of vaccine and a tetanus
shot for good measure. I returned on October 20, and October 24 for
more vaccine. My last treatment will be on November 7.
I have since learned from Mr. XXXX and
the CDC that any contact with a bat, especially if bites or scratches
are involved, is considered a category III contact. The fact that the
bat attacked me while I was sitting still further indicates that
something was wrong with it, that it was likely ill, and very likely
rabid. Bites on the head or hands, because of the relative density of
nerve endings, are considered higher-risk exposures.
Bats are a major vector of rabies in
the state of Arkansas. ANY contact with a bat should result in
immediate treatment. Even if a bat is found inside a house, the
occupants of the house should all seek treatment. My attack was not a
thing to be taken lightly or considered “insignificant.”
Dr. XXXX, I am sending you this letter
for a number of reasons, the first being that this never happens to
another patient of yours. Hopefully you will spread this information
to other doctors in your clinic to make sure it does not happen to
any of their patients either.
Secondly, I realize that XXXXXXX's Hospital is your competitor. However, they are the only repository of
rabies vaccine in this area. Unless XXXXXXXXXX Hospital intends to
keep the vaccine on hand, you should not hesitate to send your
potential rabies victims to XXXXXXXXXX's Hospital for treatment, and
do not waste any time in doing so.
Thirdly, it should not have been left
up to me to contact the health department to find out about
treatment. This rabies information should have been gotten
immediately by your staff while I was in your office. Instead, my
case was treated lackadaisically.
Lastly, I was attacked and bitten by
the animal on October 14 at 2:30AM. My treatment began approximately
84 hours after the attack and 12 hours out of the protocol window. I
think you're a good doctor otherwise, but you really fumbled the ball
here. Not just you, but your entire staff is involved. Surely I
needn't remind you of the fatality rate of rabies? Bat attacks should
never be taken lightly, and certainly not shoved to the side until
it's convenient for a nurse to phone the health department. For God's
sake and the sake of any future bat attack patients, get them
treatment IMMEDIATELY.
I intend to remain your patient. As I
said, I think you're a good doctor for regular problems and I
actually really like you. I really have no complaints other than this
one big giant huge complaint. That's why I am sending you this letter
instead of sending it to an attorney. Please understand I am trying
to be as tactful as I can while still urgently making my point.
Sincerely,
