I am a registered nurse and was injured by a patient. I had complications from surgery resulting in a cardiac arrest and seizures. Unfortunately, my medical problems were covered by worker's compensation. I had disability and medical insurance at the time but was told by my employer that I had to use the worker's comp. I was sent a letter which stated that if I did not return to work without restrictions, I would be fired. I went back and found that I could not do the job. I requested light duty work but was told that if I was on workers comp, I was not allowed to work. Since my injury, I have had eight surgeries and found out that I had a hypoxic brain injury from the cardiac arrest.
I have been denied benefits and had to use my retirement, life savings, and all my assets to pay for my medical bills. I was injured in a hospital. Adventist Health System spent approx. $200,000 on surveillance, attorneys, and several IMEs trying to get out of paying any benefits. The private detectives used telephoto lenses and looked in my windows. They even zoomed in on inappropiate body parts. They criminally trespassed and then lied about it under oath during the hearings. They doctored and spliced footage and altered records. All of this was brought up to the judge and ignored. I am also former law inforcement and can not understand why an injured worker has less rights than a criminally charged person.
The adjuster turned down a very minimal settlement amount and said that she would not give me one cent. She preferred to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars of the hospitals money and deny care. She called me buligerent names to the mediator and bragged about having the judge in her back pocket and that she could do what ever she wanted. My physicians have encouraged me to exercise for physical therapy. I was told that if I exercised, I would get oxygen to the brain and promote healing. I found that I could ride a bike because it was limited weight bearing. Now, I do fall alot but I still ride. I even rode with a fractured vertebrae, unbeknown to me at the time.
I was very sick in bed 90% of the past 4 years, including, being in a w/c, using crutches, and a cane. I had a few good days and went out on my rode bike to help with my spirit. The invetigators video taped me on my few rides (doubled and tripled the distance in their report) but just happen to miss all the months in a w/c and all the falls and emergencies. What about the eight surgeries? I have abnormal EEGs, EMGs, and neuro psych testing showing hypoxic brain injury and nerve involvement. The judge threw out all medical reports and basically said that if a person can ride a bike that they don't have a brain injury. Also, the IME physicians said that my back was preexisting.
Now, I was training for triathalons before my injury and now can only be on my feet for short periods of time. I do not understand how these physicians are allowed to just make stuff up and the judge takes it as fact and makes medical decisions without a medical license. The judge was really clueless about my medical condition. I have been harrassed, threatened, and financially devastated. All I ever wanted was medical care so that I could get better and return to work. Now, I have permanent damage, no medical benefits, no money, and they continue to harrass me. Where's the Adventist Church compassion and charity?
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