Hippocratic Oath (Hypocritical Oaf)

My mother was killed by a surgeon!

Hippocratic Oath (Hypocritical Oaf)

He butchered you!

yet he was spared

the mass grave

of delinquent doctors

as white coated ghosts

hid his piteous hide

in a shroud of black deceit.

Inky words upon poisoned parchment,

an excuse for a trial

that never happened;

justice denied.

A peer review

that screamed

“There but for the grace of God!”

And in that grace you now lie

mother,

another collateral damaged corpse

buried by his dark incompetence.

 

06/05/13

Reviews

[Mark]

This happens in the U.K. as well? Ugghh... great work John. I can feel the anger and impotence and relate to both.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes it happens all too often here and the medical profession cover their own backs. Many thanks Mark.

[redflutterby]

I've seen far too many stories like this in the news and online. Personally my husband almost died because a doctor refused to transfer him even though the hospital he was at couldn't treat his problem. Three days and multiple threats later they finally sent him to our states university teaching hospital where he was stable in ten hours. Idiots!! This is such a sad poem...I'm sorry you lost your mother in this way.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you AMS it was a decade ago but it still burns deep. too many of us put our faith unquestionably into the hands of so called experts. Thanks to the internet more and more people are able to question and even challenge the white shrouds.

[Claire Twinn]

They wield such power and yet manage not to be held accountable. We can feel your anger and sad loss here.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thabnks Claire. It was a decade ago but it still rancours

[A. H. Pinley]

As always you have a way with words. I know what I envision from this piece and I posted something not all that long ago on the subject. With holding information may not be all that healthy. Nice write John!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

No cover ups are never nice!

[SHEEMA HUQ]

ooh very spooky indeed, sad, rather gory too, great writing as ever John

[Emerald Seas]

Terribly sad. This type of tragedy is difficult. We put our loved ones in the hands of professionals we trust to use their knowledge to help, to cure, to mend, etc., and they cause more harm.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am a health professional but there are some buchers out there that McDonalds would never employ in thir abatoirs! Thanks QSS

[Ravyne Hawke]

Truly a sad read, but a powerful one. So sorry for your loss John. I can only think of the doctor years ago who saved my mother's life with a 5 hr surgery on a broken foot and I cannot image how a doctor could be so incompetent, knowing that he caused death and still live with himself. Arrogance comes to mind.. he thinks himself so much a god that he has the power over life and death... and he has peers to back him up.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

That is the truth of it. Thanks Lori.

[s y e]

Wow, this was so emotional. The emotion was raw and powerful. I was shocked when I saw the subtitle for this, I couldn't believe it, I am so sorry for your loss. This makes a punch, well done.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Sye!

[Keith LaFountaine]

So much emotion in this piece John. I can relate, as a very close friend of mine's father died from something similar. Sometimes it's hard to remember that doctor's are human too, even with all of the training they go through, and it's horrible to think of how their mistakes can affect us personally. A very powerful piece. Excellent work.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Kieth. Seemy comment to Leslie below.

[Leslie Philibert]

I can understand that you are upset about what happened, and you describe it very well
But you have to be careful, I have a great doctor who looks after me well. So there are doctors and doctors, and they are humans, who can make mistakes as part of the human condition..

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Being a healthcare professional I fully understand this. If I make an error it is fully investigated. If a doctor does, more often than not, a peer is asked to review. The file and all they are thinking in most cases is he might be reviewing me next! Something wrong with this process I wager!