Yesterday at 4 p.m. I met with the hospital risk managers and their lawyer, and Dr. Tector and his lawyer. I presented Linda's case for about 20 minutes, along with my analysis of why early, confidential settlement would be a good thing for both sides. I asked for a million bucks and health care for Linda for the rest of her life. Their response was a terse, barely civil statement that nothing is their fault, which could fairly be paraphrased as "go suck an egg." The meeting was over by 4:35 p.m.
I came back to Linda's hospital room, compiled a spell checked sequence of all my e-mails over the course of Linda's hospitalization, wrote a 1 page press release, and by 6 a.m. this morning had e-mailed it to various Chicago and national news outlets, and dropped off hard copies at all 4 Indianapolis TV Stations, which are conveniently located within 10 blocks of each other along Meridian street in downtown Indianapolis.
Right now, last week and this week, Indiana University Hospital is undergoing the survey for its once every three years reaccreditation by the Joint Commission. As soon as the materials were in the hands of the TV reporters, I sent off another copy to the complaint department of the Joint Commission, asking for an interview with one of their surveyors.
It has been a busy day. I already have arrangements for an on camera interview tomorrow with Anne Marie Tiernon, medical beat reporter for the local NBC affiliate. At her request, I also sent her some spiffy digital photographs of Linda in her hospital bed, still connected to the ventilator, monitors and IV poles, and looking rather drowsy. Should make a good segment on tomorrow's NBC evening news.
If there is to be no peace, there will be war!
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