Dear Honorable Julia Carson,

I first want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to tell my story.  It all started when our daughter had weight gain and we took her to our family doctor to see what he thought we could do. He then did some blood test and decided she needed to go to a specialist and recommend one at Hospital A this was in March of 1996 and we had our first appointment at the end of June 1996. We went to the appointment on June 29, 1996 and they examined her and did an ultra sound.  The following Monday we had some more blood work done and after getting the results they called and said we would need to bring her in for a couple of days. That just happened to be on July 3^rd and 4^th of 1996 and was our last time to spend the Fourth of July together. The doctor sent her home on July 5,1996 and then asked for us to come in on that following Saturday to discuss their findings. At that time they explained to us that they thought she had Cushings Syndrome and surgery was our only option. Being we were at a highly respectable hospital we trusted in the doctors and hospital and went ahead and set up surgery for the following Tuesday.  It all starts here,  She was having a tumor removed from between her adrenal glands that would supposedly return her life back to normal.  The surgery was to be about 4 hrs and ended up being 7 hrs and then we had signed papers for them to put a central line in her because her veins were hidden and that was not done either upon taking her to recovery the nurse was trying to take out the I.V and move it because she was complaining that it hurt the nurse kept pulling and she was screaming when all of the sudden I realized the I.V had been sewed to her hand like if someone had stitches. I guess that is nothing compared to what is next.
From the moment she was out of surgery she required and continued to require oxygen from that day on. She would also spike fevers. The doctors ran several test and there was at least 5 different dept. looking over her records the problem is I don't think the other one knew what the other was doing .  Around the third day she was complaining of her leg and I automatically thought Blood Clot and they ran test but could not find anything. I thought blood clot because my mother had varicose veins and had experienced this situation before however I never thought that would be a need for oxygen because she never needed it when she was in the hospital. But the fact is if there is a clot or clots in certain areas through out the body it could defiantly cut off a source of oxygen .  I would think any medical professional would know this but I guess not.  She remained in the hospital for 2 weeks and they could not tell us why she required oxygen or why she had these fevers but thought it was fine to send her home. I could not believe it I asked why and they said it was something they felt could be monitored at home. I was so mad I thought they would have to call security on me. But home we went and the following  Sunday we were rush back to the hospital where he passed on, because of several thromboli in the lungs.
As I sit here and try to think how to explain what happens next it's hard to find the words except shock and pain that is so deep. Loosing a child is the worst experience anyone can go through, but to loose one that you feel could have been prevented is worse.  My husband and I left the hospital that night and we could not even think , we were trying to think how we were going to tell her two brothers and sister that their big sister was gone.  It only takes us about 15- 20 minutes to get home and my husband was so silent and  I remember just asking over and over how are we going to tell the kids hoping they would be in bed, not a chance they kept calling while we were at the hospital and we just kept telling them we'll be home soon. Sure enough when we pulled in the driveway they met us at the door with their baby-sitter with little smiles on their faces asking how is Shawna. I remember gathering them around me along with the baby-sitter who was a friend of Shawna's and telling them Shawna had passed on and was with God and that he needed her to help take care of all the little children in Heaven. You see She was not your typical teenager and we have a strong family bond and she bragged about her brothers and sister and loved spending time with them .
We stayed up that whole night waiting for morning to come so we could call family members.
I had already called my mother who lives in Florida but we could not call his mother and tell her this news, she has heart problems. We called my husbands family that morning and made arrangement for paramedics to be on stand by when we broke the news. After that we had to go and make arrangements and I had never had to do anything like this before . Not knowing what to expect they took my husband and I into a room to pick out a coffin when to say the least I lost it. I started screaming and just going hysterical at that point the funeral director told my husband to get me out of there and take me to our family doctor, he did and the doctor gave us medicine to help us get through this period and could not believe that Shawna had passed on.
This has effected our whole life,  depression , financially, family life, and each one of our children have had counseling . One time my son cut his self and required stitches we had to take him to the hospital and he through a fit not wanting to go afraid he would die and holding on to me so tight I thought my circulation would be cut off and as a mother you know when your child hurts you hurt but you have to be strong but the first moment I had to my self I just brake down. Financially my husband and I owned our own small business at the time and still do but because we could not function and we were the backbone of this company we had to downsize and its hurt us financially and had to file bankruptcy and are still fighting to get back on our feet.
We finally found and attorney a year later that would represent us, we kept running into conflict of interest.
When you live in a state were most of our lawyers and doctors graduated from the same University it's real hard to find someone that will help. Then it took our attorney another year that would find an expert witness that would go against the doctors that were involved. That day came this year 29 days before our statue of limitation was to expire.
Its really bad when you know there was medical neglect but you can get anyone to stand up against another doctors judgment because there kids play with each other or maybe they play golf together whatever.
The next problem will be getting through the peer review panel that Indiana has.  Only 20% of medical malpractice's cases get through this process. Becoming an advocate for this issue I have done a lot of research and found that other states don't have this process and call it unconstitutional. I agree. Why does only 20% ever get to trial?
This is very scary because what if my husband and I are one of the 80% that get rejected. How can we see that justice will be served.  I know that there are good doctors out there but I'm scared to death if my children were to be admitted for any reason to a hospital I would probably have a nervous break down. The thought of this just makes me sick and that is not good.  I would defiantly go to the Dept.  of Ins. and find out if any complaints had been made against anyone who was looking after my child. I wish that I knew  this sooner and that is another problem we have a register in this state that tells of all the child molesters and were they live. Why  not have a register that is really made public for doctors who have made mistakes and why? There are doctors still practicing after having many complaints against them. I spoke to a retired nurse one time and she told me the medical system has failed because to many doctors get involved and don't communicate. I think she right when you consider that 44  doctors was looking over her case. To many mistakes are being nation wide but Indiana is one of the worst.
If you go back to when Otis Bowen M.D. was Governor these laws went into place I 'am  guessing to protect the doctors and Ins. Co.  Funny  he was also a doctor too. What happened to the public?  I guess You can tell I am starting to get upset now and I apologize. I just don't know any other way to make my point. This letter has not been the easiest of things to do. I have had to stop and walk away because I have too much anger or I will just cry.
I want to close this by just saying these laws that Indiana has placed must change and these are my suggestions .

1. There needs to be a State Registry that is advertised and Made Public Knowledge to check on all doctors on any complaint and suit filed.
2. After a doctor has a claim filed and found in neglect they should not be able to  practice medicine .
3. The process that someone must take to even have a Medical Malpractice Hearing and having to go before a per review panel should not exist
4. The amount of time you give someone to file 2yrs is not long enough.
5. The caps law was increased ,however I cant understand how the state or government can place a cap on damages they have no idea of the circumstances surrounding that case.
6. There needs to be better communication between doctors. With technology as it is today I feel there should be no excuse for communication to lack among these professionals.  Thank You Again For Your Time and Please think about were Indiana ranks among they other States and what can we do to improve this so others don't' have to go through what my family and I have had to experience and it will live with us for the rest of our lives.

Sincerely,  Melissa Scott and Family