Uncompassionate staff and pathetic service

My husband rushed me to the ER at Cape Gate Mediclinic on Sunday, 26 November 2023 as I was experiencing heart arrhythmia for over two hours. The nurse took my blood pressure and the systolic mm Hg (upper number) was 145 or 155. I confirmed that I had no serious pain nor fever and was placed in the yellow category (hardly serious symptoms). About 30 minutes later I was awarded with a bed in the ER. I pause to mention that whilst I was waiting for a bed, one of the nurses on duty informed her colleague that she is so surprised that it is a quiet and calm Sunday, her colleague who told her not to say that as to would cause them misfortune and it would become busy.

An ECG was conducted and it reflected that my heart was ‘racing’. I received two calming tablets and another ECG was conducted about 30 minutes thereafter, which reflected that my heart was still ‘racing’. Dr Christopher Bell approached me and abruptly enquired whether I have ever been treated for any heart related issues or ever been to a cardiologist, my answer was no. He confirmed that he was unable to provide me with a diagnosis from reading my ECG as he required professional expert advice from a Cardiologist in Panorama. He returned several minutes later confirming that he has spoken to the Cardiologist and I suffer from Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). At the time I obviously had no idea what this meant. He confirmed that there are three procedures to be conducted, in order to treat the symptoms. The first procedure is Vagal Maneuver. Should it be unsuccessful, then a chemical cardioversion procedure is to be conducted and should that be unsuccessful then I would be given anaesthetic and my heart would be literally electrically shocked in order to get the rhythm into place.

At this point, I started to stress as it was almost four hours since my heart arrythmia occurred, and my heart has been racing non-stop. I feared I was going to get a heart attack or stroke, should my heart continue to race, never mind being under anaesthetic and my heart being electrically ‘shocked’. I informed Dr Bell that I feared the aforesaid and he immediately told me that whoever is treating my anxiety, is doing a horrible job (I suffer from anxiety which has been treated by a psychiatrist since 2015). Dr Bell immediately took me to the ER’s resuscitation room and conducted the first procedure being the Vagal Maneuver. The procedure was three times unsuccessful. Dr Bell informed me that we had to commence with the second procedure (chemical cardioversion). At the time I had no idea what this procedure entailed, all I knew that it entailed needles, which I have an immense fear of. I heard Dr Bell asking my husband to sign the consent form and my husband immediately telling him no as I was compos mentis (having full control of one’s mind) and that I should be informed of the procedure in order for me to sign the form myself.

Dr Bell approached me and requested that I sign the form. Being an Attorney, I will not sign anything that I have not read and/or procedure been explained to. I enquired as to what form it was and he said it was merely a consent form. I informed him that I am aware why a consent form is required to be signed as it entails a potentially dangerous procedure where something could go wrong. He simply informed me that I could have an allergic reaction and that the medication could work ‘slow’. I enquired what exactly the allergic reaction would entail and he confirmed that I would possibly not be able to breathe. At this point in time, I was highly stressed, which increased my heart rate. Dr Bell kept on enquiring as to why I was so scared and I told him that I feared death. Not once did he reassure me that I would not die, as I knew he could not guarantee it.

My husband encouraged me to do the procedure as he feared that should my heart continue to race, I would get a heart attack or stroke. I agreed to do the procedure. The nurse struggled to locate a vein in order to withdraw blood for tests and conduct the chemical cardioversion. She located a vein (left arm) and my blood was so thick at the time that Dr Bell and the nurse had to apply pressure and literally squeeze the blood out of my arm, whilst the needle was still in. Dr Bell knew at that point in time that the vein would not suffice for the chemical cardioversion and informed me that he will personally insert the vein in my right hand (I am right-handed). I requested that he not hurt me as he is aware of my fear for needles and the needle that was inserted in my left arm, did not go well. He immediately snapped at me and told me to that I must trust him as he cannot work like this. I remained quiet.

Dr Bell proceeded to inject the medication into my hand and my body immediately went into an ‘electric shock’. It felt as if my soul left my body. My arms immediately spasmed and my hands made a claw like shape. My husband at the time thought I had a stroke as he experienced a similar situation with his father, in the same room, several years prior, who had a stroke and whose left side of the body was left permanently disabled (claw like hand). My husband obviously did not say anything and kept a brave face. The more I was trying to speak, the more no one could understand what I was trying to say. Eventually after several seconds, my husband and Dr Bell could make sense of what I was saying and I informed them that I could not feel my hands nor feet. Dr Bell immediately snapped at me and told me that it is not the medication, but rather as a result of my anxiety. I suffered with anxiety for many years and experienced many panic attacks, but never experienced what I went through. I knew it was not my anxiety, which made me anxious thinking, what if it is a side effect of the medication and I am paralysed. Nonetheless, after a while my heart pressure dropped and I was starting to gain sensation in my hands and feet.

Dr Bell informed me that he was pleased with my heart rate and there was no need for the third procedure. He also told me, while I was laying there trying to gain sensation in my hands and feet that I was a very difficult patient with horrible anxiety. He could have attended to plenty other patients but had to sit with me and my anxiety. I did not reply, as I was so focused on my heart rate and sensation in my hands and feet. I was moved to another room, given two more calming tablets and sent home (all within 5-10 minutes). All I was told was that the cardiologist will be in touch with me in the week.

I am utterly disgusted in the service I received as it is not the type of service one should receive from an ER Doctor on a Sunday. Especially when one’s heart is racing to an extent of a heart attack or stroke and the Doctor is not assisting the patient’s anxiety situation at all. I was also not adequately informed of the procedure because only after said procedure, did I understand what the second possible side effect could be (medication could work slow). Should the medication of worked any slower, I most likely would have died. The cardiologist, during my subsequent consultation with him, confirmed that the procedure I underwent, stopped my heart for a while and that is why I experienced as if my soul left my body, loss of sensation and claw like hands. Not once was I told that my heart would literally stop.