Behind Closed Hospital Doors

Devonte Brown was in serious pain about a week ago on October 1, 2020 when he realized that he needed to go to the hospital. Brown, who was at home with his mother and placed a 911 call. A local ambulance soon arrived at their residence. After the arrival of the ambulance, Brown was asked about his condition and it was determined that he should go to a hospital. According to Brown, the two attendants forced Brown to walk to the ambulance instead of bringing a stretch for him, despite his mother’s insistence that he wasn’t able to walk. Brown said that the stomach pain that he was experiencing was just too much for him, as he had been in pain and was in bed for 12 days. As a precaution Brown went to get tested for COVID-19; his test came back negative for COVID-19, but his stomach pains persisted. Brown said that his ride in the ambulance was uncomfortable in that the tone of the attendants’ conversation matched the way they handled him at his mother’s home. It was as if they didn’t want to be bothered, nor truly cared about how he felt. It only got worse from there.

Brown was taken to Oschner LSU Hospital (the former EA Conway Hospital) and was seen by a nurse. He told the nurse about the pain in his stomach and asked about getting some medicine for the pain. When Brown tried to explain the pain, the nurse allegedly left him alone after giving him a cup for a urine sample. The nurse allegedly told Brown to walk to the restroom even though Brown said that because of the pain, he was unable to move. He instead asked for a jar to use. Brown said that as he tried to get the nurse to understand his situation, she allegedly said that “a little pain never hurt no one,"

At one point, Brown said that the nurse clapped her hands as a teacher to a child to get its attention, as if he was behaving like a child. He was allegedly hollered at and told that security would be called because Brown wasn’t “following orders”, as he was on the floor in pain. Two male attendants helped Brown back in bed, as he had a stomach x-ray done and was given two nausea pills before he was discharged. Brown said that he never saw a doctor before he was discharged. Brown also said that he wanted to know the nurse’s name, as her badge was turned around, hiding her identity. Brown mentioned that because of the way he was treated, he would see his attorney, to which the nurse allegedly replied “call him”.

Brown said that he was on his way out of the hospital when someone at the entrance desk told him not to leave in the condition that he was in. Brown re-admitted himself and was seen by a doctor, who Brown said was a God-send because the doctor went through all of the proper steps to address his situation and he was very satisfied with his treatment. Brown wants it to be known that not all doctors/nurses are bad, but believes he deserved better sharing, “a dog would have been treated better.”

Brown said that he is bitter from the way that he was treated and that something needs to be done. He believes and encourages that others should come forward, so that hospitals could be held accountable, and the world can see what goes on behind closed doors.

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