It's become evident that there is a concerning problem in regards to the way the Emergency Department doctors that practice in our local hospital function.  I have experienced malpractice first hand, and have heard stories from other members of the Woodstock community.  I can account for 3 instances of doctors giving my family the wrong diagnosis, or simply not caring about the patient and rushing them out of the door - and no, COVID-19 concerns are not an excuse for this behavior.

Most recently:

My brother and I became ill with a lung infection which I had presumed to be bronchitis.  I am a smoker and come down with a case of acute bronchitis almost annually.  Generally when I experience this, it merely takes a round of anti-biotics and cough medicine - and of course a knowledgable doctor to examine me, and listen adequately to remedy my ailment.

My brother went to the emergency department first as he began to experience symptoms first; his attending doctor (name not on record) diagnosed him with bacterial bronchitis.  He has seen improvement in his condition within a few days after receiving his anti-biotics.  

I began experiencing similar symptoms shortly after and attempted to power through it.  However on October 18th, 2022 I had no choice but to leave my workplace within the first 2 hours of my shift.  The reason being was that I was experiencing breathing difficulties, including wheezing and shortness of breath with a major cough.  I had tested negative that morning for COVID-19.  I went home to rest and acquire over the counter medicine to help with my cough and remained at home October 19th, 2022.  I was awake until approximately 3:30am that night and could not attend my shift on the 20th.  I visited the emergency department at Woodstock Hospital on or about 9:45am that day.  Approximately 11:50am my attending physician examined me and diagnosed my lung condition as viral bronchitis.  I explained my brother had bacterial bronchitis, and antibiotics were working for him.  The doctor stated that they would not help my condition whatsoever.  I was prescribed an inhaler and recommended to continue taking cough medicine.  

2 days after this visit to the WH Emergency Department the condition of my lungs had worsened.  I felt as if I was drowning in my own body, and began coughing up blood along with phlegm.  My son was also sick at the time, and I decided to bring him with me for my return trip to the Emergency Department so he can be examined as well.  After a long wait, we were finally brought into the back of the Emergency Department and the nurse had begun to ask routine questions.  She had asked me, specifically, if anyone had done x-ray's on my lungs.  Before I could respond the doctor came into the room and took over the show - so to speak.  

(Side note: I should have gotten a doctors note from this doctor so I could have their name immediately for my records)

She examined myself, and my son and declared there wasn't much wrong with my son (who's nose was raw from the amount of wiping he'd been doing, and a persistent cough and visible ear discomfort).  Then proceeded to tell me that coughing up blood is a non-issue.  The attending physician refused to proceed with any further examination or tests to verify that yes; it is viral bronchitis.  As well, upon asking for a doctors note she stated "I don't see the point when your workplace might not even respect it."  I persisted that I was misdiagnosed, and both my son and I require antibiotics, and was ignored by the attending physician.

I wanted to visit the hospital in London as they have helped my daughter greatly in the past.  However, with the condition of my lungs being nearly abysmal, I could not operate my vehicle for prolonged periods of time.  I was not whatsoever confident in the ability of the doctors practicing at Woodstock Hospital to seek medical attention at that facility a third time.  I waited until Tuesday October 25th, 2022 to seek further medical attention.  I went to Dr Norman Yu's walk-in for a 2 hour wait to be seen.  Better than the 4-6 hours my son and I waited to be rushed out of the Emergency Department, with no medicine or care.  The moment Dr. Yu pressed the stethoscope to my chest he was taken aback at how terrible my lungs sounded.  I was diagnosed with pneumonia, and my son was diagnosed with an inner ear infection.  Which is odd as he's been pulling at his ear displaying signs of discomfort since Monday, and the doctor didn't notice it when that attending physician examined my son on our visit to the WH Emergency Department Saturday, October 22.

Another account of malpractice I can recall involving my family and the WH Emergency Department is when my newborn daughter woke up choking, then stopped breathing.  My wife went with her in the ambulance to get immediate medical attention on May 3rd, 2022.  Once everything had settled and the baby was in good health, the attending physician (Dr. Azar Bayat) told my wife "your baby is sick, but we don't know with what," as well advised that my wife should prop my newborn up with a blanket.  Something our family physician would strongly disagree with due to risk of SIDS.  Thereafter my daughter continued to have breathing difficulties due to congestion.  Despite Dr. Azar Bayat stating that my newborn's lungs sounded clear.  I promptly took her to London Health Sciences Centre where she received excellent and timely care.  It turned out that she had a bronchial infection and they did a deep suction to remove the mucus congested in her nasal passage & lungs.  A good 7 inches of the suction tube was filled with phlegm and mucus from her nose, and I would assume her lungs.  The doctors in London were baffled to hear that we were told the newborn's lungs sounded clear.  

Lastly, my son had a bronchial infection at the same time my newborn had hers. (are we noticing a pattern yet?)  The attending physician for my son stated "it's probably COVID, and again we were rushed out of the department with discharge papers.  We did not go without stating the fact it was not, and we knew what it was.  Roughly 2 days later my son had a fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and it was accompanied by a full body rash.  I promptly called after hours care of our family physician and ran through the symptoms with the doctor.  They concurred it was a bronchial infection and promptly prescribed antibiotics for my son and within 24 hours of the first dose my son was showing improvement.  If we simply "let it run it's course" because "it's probably COVID", my son would have ended up in a much worse state.

I previously made a post in a community Facebook page and from the feedback I received:  I came to the understanding that I am not the only individual experiencing malpractice from some, of the members of the WH Emergency Department healthcare team.  Examples of medical malpractice include: Misdiagnosis and failure to treat.  Both instances that I have experienced fall under the simplest legal definition of malpractice.  

The course of action I am requesting from the Woodstock Hospital is a full performance evaluation, and potential restaffing of negligent doctors practicing in the Emergency Department.

I will not sit idle to allow this continue, it is only a matter of time before an individual is neglected, or misdiagnosed; and it ends as a fatal mistake.  I am currently filing a complaint with the hospital and will provide further updates as they are available.  In the mean time I am reaching out to fellow members of my community.  If you have experienced a similar situation with medical malpractice and your, or your loved ones illness(es); medical condition; injuries got worse, or have been otherwise harmed due to an Emergency Doctors misdiagnosis, wrong prescription, sign this petition and share your story, so I can add it to the accounts to be further addressed.

Once enough signatures have been accumulated I will do my utmost to bring this to the attention of the Hospital Director, MP, and Mayor of Woodstock.  Hopefully this will be enough to bring change to our community's healthcare at WH Emergency Department.  Otherwise further action may be required and I will be seeking advice accordingly.