Douglas County Hospital Dr. Gary Paulson Botched colonoscopy, Rape with an instriment, Abuse of the disabled Alexandria Minnesota

I was referred to Dr Gary Paulson in June of 2005 regarding a hernia. At that time Dr Paulson was aware of my disabilities, which include Dissociative Identity Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as others. Because of these two disabilities I am very careful to make sure any doctor is very aware of my conditions and have a personal care assistant (PCA) available at all times.

After the hernia surgery (day surgery) I stopped breathing in the recovery room. My PCA thought it was a reaction to the pain medication, and got staff to take care of me. The staff in the Day Surgery sent me home about an hour after this happened and assured her that there was no problem with the medicine.

I kept getting sicker at home, and she took me back to the hospital. I was admitted for 3-4 days and was treated with different pain medications than originally prescribed. During this time Dr Paulson checked on me every day and continued to have knowledge of how these disabilities affect me.

In August of 2007, I was again referred to Dr Paulson regarding the possibility of problems with the hernia, or something else that may cause rectal bleeding. He determined a colonoscopy was the best course of action. He was advised, and we discussed the disabilities again with him and also with his nurse. My PCA was at every appointment with me.

On August 27, 2007 I went into the day surgery unit for the colonoscopy with my PCA. She informed them that the medicine that I was to take during the night before, did not work (Go-lightly) because I could not keep it down. Rather than change the appointment they said they would do an enema, at which point she confirmed they knew of my disabilities. They were able to do the enema, but it also did not work properly per Dr Paulson.

When they took me into the surgery, my PCA waited in my room. They administered two drugs that are supposed to have you relax and forget the procedure afterwards. These drugs did not take effect and so they administered more doses. Regardless of how much they had given me they did not take effect. The nurse told me they were going to do the procedure anyway, and I said "No, get my PCA". She left the room and I thought she was going to get her. She came back again and again said we are going to do it anyway. I said "NO" again.

Dr Paulson came in the room with another nurse and they held me down to the table and proceeded to do the procedure. Dr Paulson was complaining that the enema did not work and at one point the pain was so severe, I kicked out (possibly hitting Dr Paulson), after which he said "The field is not clear...We are done!", and very roughly pulled out the instruments.

The nurse tried to make me sit up and I could not. They were ready to take me back to the room. When I could finally get up and walk back to the room, the nurse asked me if I wanted my feet up in the recliner she had me sit in, I said no; and then asked if I was ok. I told her "NO I'm not ok", she did not say another word and left the room. As soon as she left, I took out the IV and left the hospital.

Per my PCA, Dr Paulson came into see her right before I got back to the room, and the only thing he said was that because the enema did not work correctly, the intestines were not clear, but he did not think there was anything wrong. He did not tell her that there was a problem in the surgery, he did not say to her that I asked them to stop, nor did the nurse go get her when I asked her to. After we left the hospital, I explained to her what happened.

Per my PCA, she called the surgical unit, and talked to the nurse in charge, who told her they gave me three times what they would normally give a person, and they maybe they did not work right because of the medications I take. She also told her that to give me more drugs, they would have had to reschedule the surgery and send me to the regular surgical unit. She said the doctor chose not to do that.

My PCA also called the doctor's office and asked them to explain what happened. I was in extreme pain, and because of my history was extremely suicidal. When he called back, he said that they had given me 10 times as much as they normally do, and that if I had a problem, I should call my regular doctor and she would help me get into a hospital (psychiatric).

After talking with my therapist about this incident, she said that it had taken me backwards 3 years in treatment. She has been working with me on my being able to say "no" and be in charge of my body. They did not listen to me at all when I said no.

I talked to a police officer and filed a report of rape, because I said to them to stop and they did not. The officer took the report and sent it to the prosecutor who refused to go any further with it. He did infer that if this had happened to a female (if the pronouns were different) they may be able to make a case. He suggested looking into a malpractice suit.

In speaking with a lawyer about a malpractice suit, I was told that no one in this "small town" would take it on. It is too small a place and they may have to deal with him or the clinic themselves. In fact, my regular doctor stated that if I pursued a case against him, she may not be able to refer me to any other doctor in this area if it became necessary. I feel that there might even be problems continuing to see her in that case, because they work out of the same clinic.

Rob
Starbuck, Minnesota
U.S.A.