Undiagnosed Abused by a doctor and medical staff

[liz1]

I wonder if anyone knows of any groups for people abused by medical professionals. I am from Finland originally, but have also lived in the US and the UK for longer periods of time. I have now lived in Finland for the past year and before that I lived in Chicago. I was abused by a doctor at the Oulu University Hospital in Northern Finland when given too much fentanyl after falling off a horse and fracturing four ribs in January this year. I was nearly unconscious and a female doctor (ca 50 years old) asked me disgusting sexual questions in front of 9 people and provoked me to talk about sexual things nobody would ever discuss with any stranger, while I was heavily sedated. Nine people were watching and nobody intervened. Actually on the contrary, two older nurses (a male and a female) urged the female doctor to continue and I was abused even more. I have been truly traumatized by this and have been in trauma therapy for four months now.
I wonder if you know of any support group or of any people with similar situation to mine that I could talk to. I have not received any proper therapy in Finland and a very unprofessional female psychiatrist just almost dismissed my case (6.2.2017) as I was not able to tell her much about what had happened. She pretty much just sent me home. The discussions "therapy" that I have received thus far has not helped at all. I am only given times once in two weeks and during the two week period I can get really down and cannot stop thinking about what happened and how badly I was treated. I know I have the symptoms of PTSD, but it seems that the staff giving me the "therapy" totally dismisses this and pretty much just thinks my abuse isn't such a big deal. Apparently to them the abuse was not that serious as there was no touching ( I have not been able to talk to them about the abuse details either). However, this kind of abuse by medical staff when you are totally helpless (I could not move and I remember that I was told to ...Breath,...Breath), thus I was in a really bad shape at some point, really leaves bad scars. The AJC magazine said it really well " Hurt that does not heal" *link removed* I know different people take this kind of abuse differently. I was brought up in a very traditional Christian home, thus this kind of sexual abuse when nearly unconscious leaves a lot greater scars compared with people having liberal upbringing. I have no objection to either upbringing, however, medical staff should take into consideration how badly their actions can hurt some people when others might pretty much just dismiss the case. And nobody regardless of their background should need to go through anything like this!!! I personally think anyone going through a thing like this would be hurt in some way. You are supposed to be able trust the people taking care of you when ever you fall ill.
I would really appreciate any help that anyone could offer as I have noticed that I DO have the symptoms of PTSD and that the symptoms can be quite severe and have lasted for way too long. Talking to other people with similar experiences I am sure would be of great benefit.
Hopefully you have time to get in touch
Best Liisa

 

[Friday]

I would really appreciate any help that anyone could offer as I have noticed that I DO have the symptoms of PTSD and that the symptoms can be quite severe and have lasted for way too long

Every single symptom of PTSD is found in other disorders. There isn't a single one which is unique to PTSD. So when your docs & therapists are saying you do not have PTSD, have they told you what disorder or condition they believe you to have?

 

[liz1]

Thank you for your reply. They have not told me that I do not have PTSD, the psychiatrist just dismissed my case. For the therapy sessions in Finland I have not seen a therapist, I have seen a mental health nurse. Thus, she is not qualified to do any diagnoses, unfortunately.

 

[Deleted member 37474]

Were the doctors doing this as some kind of sick joke? Like see what we can get her to say while she is under this drug? Can you remember what you said, or the questions? Were the dr's medical students? When the two other doctors encouraged her to keep going were they laughing?

Do you keep reliving it? Flashbacks?

 

[Casey_03]

Did the therapist give a reason for dismissing your case? How many times did you see her before she dismissed it? Normally, I would think a therapist would offer some sort of explanation.

 

[Justmehere]

Have you been through other life threatening trauma in the past prior to the fall off the horse?

Can you explain why you felt that the doctor telling you to breathe was abusive? Can you explain how it was sexual abuse?

 

[anthony]

I was abused by a doctor

How so? Being asked sexual questions does not constitute traumatic abuse. Sorry. Falling off of your horse and breaking ribs and such, absolutely, as that kills people.

Are you honestly sure it was questions about sex or your actual traumatic event?

You have been dismissed because what you're claiming, is not traumatic abuse, sexual abuse or anything else. A doctor asking you sexual questions with nine people present, pretty sure there was some relevance to this that you're leaving out. There is no way nine witnesses would otherwise have let this go in a hospital if any of them constituted this as abuse / trauma.

Maybe you're confused about what you feel and are struggling to reconcile the real trauma that happened to you. Instead you have focused on something else and maybe exacerbated it beyond the reality of the situation?

 

[EveHarrington]

Welcome!

 

[liz1]

Hi Texcat, Thank you for your response.
The reason why the doctors did this I do not know. There were no students present. All of the doctors were already M.D.'s. The doctor that asked me these questions and made me talk about these things was a female, clearly the oldest and highest in "rank" and in my personal opinion NOT suitable for her job at all! I remember the questions she asked me and my answers. All the questions with this regard were TOTALLY inappropriate for any medical staff to ask in any situation. As you mentioned the female nurse and the male nurse were laughing and also encourage her to continue. I have gone through reasoning why she did this.. as you said sick joke, to humiliate, to show power... I do not know and I might never find out, but 9 people watching and nobody intervened that is to me is sickening.
And, a good question. I do get flashbacks (eg. some words trigger anxiety), I see nightmares about it. These symptoms have been going on for months now and have not stopped. This, I am worried will stay with me much longer. I am not sure how to deal deal with this, however, I know that the talk therapy that I am currently receiving is not helping and the main thing right now for me is to try to get rid of the feeling and the anxiety I still suffer from this event. And any help with this regard Is appreciated. Best Liisa

 

[liz1]

HI Casey, Thank you for your question. I saw a psychiatrist. The medical care in Finland is free, thus it is not easy to get these appointments unless you go to a private clinic. I was not able to tell the psychiatrist much about the case, thus the discussion was pretty much, as yo do not want any drugs (I was prescribed sleeping pills) there is nothing else I can do. In this case CBT would be the first line of treatment, but I was told this is not available. When the medical care is free appointments also are scares. Thus, the result. Best regards, Liisa

 

[liz1]

Hi Justmehere. Thank you for your questions.
First, yes I have been in a life threatening situation before. Doctor asking me to breathe certainly does not constitute abuse. I was telling how the fentanyl affected me and how helpless I was. I have not written down the questions online the doctor asked me and the exact things she told me to talk about and choose not to do this either. However, the things I was asked to talk about and the questions I was asked are totally inappropriate in any medical situation to ask.
Sexual abuse laws are different in different countries. I am writing my story currently from Finland. Best regards, Liisa

 

[liz1]

Hi Anthony, Thank you for your opinion. The laws in Finland are I am sure are very different from the laws in Your country. I would NOT go online unless I was 100% sure what I have experienced. I do not need to leave out anything or claim anything to the psychiatrist. If I would what would be the point of seeking help???
And FYI I have already discussed the legal matters regarding what happened with lawyers, and I do not do this with a psychiatrist. She is not a professional in the law. All the best to you Liisa