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00:00:00 – 00:46:24
The YouTube video recounts the medical ordeal of Michael Skolnick, a nursing student and EMT who experienced a series of troubling health issues and ultimately passed away due to a botched surgery. The narrative details the lack of informed consent, medical malpractice, and hidden information in his treatment. Michael's parents, Patty and David, faced challenges in navigating his care, including extended ICU stays, severe complications post-surgery, and the eventual decision to remove life support. The story underscores the importance of transparency, informed consent, and patient advocacy in healthcare. This tragic case led to the passing of the Michael Schick medical transparency act in 2007, requiring healthcare providers in Colorado to disclose critical information to patients to prevent similar incidents.
00:00:00
In this segment of the video, the narrator discusses the medical nightmare experienced by Michael Skolnick, a nursing student and part-time EMT in Colorado. Michael underwent botched medical procedures that led to suffering and eventually his passing. It was revealed that Michael’s surgeon had hidden a significant secret, prompting the creation of a new law. Michael was described as a compassionate individual who excelled in nursing school and as an EMT, with a deep outlook on life. The segment also covers the concerning health issues Michael faced, including collapsing multiple times, leading up to his tragic passing.
00:05:00
In this segment of the video, Michael initially dismisses his fainting episodes but eventually decides to seek medical help after a second fainting spell. The doctor connects the fainting to Michael’s use of an antidepressant called Wellbutrin. After inconclusive results from a spinal tap, a CT scan reveals a small cholate cyst in Michael’s brain, leading to concerns about a potential seizure disorder. Further evaluation through an MRI confirms the presence of a non-life-threatening cyst, and treatment plans are discussed. A neurosurgeon advises immediate ICU admission due to the severity of the cyst and its impact on Michael’s brain ventricles. Michael is swiftly taken to the hospital for further tests and medical intervention.
00:10:00
In this segment of the video, Dr. M informs Michael’s family that he needs immediate medical intervention due to fluid buildup in his head. He recommends inserting a ventricular drain followed by brain surgery. Despite initial shock, the family trusts Dr. M’s expertise and agrees to the procedures. However, concerns arise when they discover the surgery will be bedside with a hand drill. During the drain placement, Michael experiences complications due to excessive sedation. Dr. M later warns that without emergency brain surgery, Michael could die within 48 hours, leaving the family in a state of panic. The urgency of the situation prompts them to make quick decisions to save Michael’s life.
00:15:00
In this segment of the video, Patty and David are faced with a difficult decision about their son Michael’s surgery. Despite receiving information from their primary care physician that the cyst was benign and no immediate action was necessary, Dr. M, the neurosurgeon, proceeded with the surgery without their consent. Michael was given a significant amount of medication and then asked to sign the consent form while heavily medicated. The surgery took longer than expected, leaving Patty and David waiting anxiously. When Dr. M finally informed them, he expressed regret for the situation.
00:20:00
In this segment of the video, Michael’s parents Patty and David were shocked to learn that during what was expected to be a 3-hour surgery on Michael’s brain, the surgeon accidentally punctured the cyst and performed heavy manipulation. Michael faced complications, including a craniotomy that the parents were not informed about, leading to a prolonged stay in the ICU. Multiple severe health issues arose post-surgery, with Michael experiencing recurring brain abscesses, pulmonary embolism, infections, and respiratory arrest. The parents were not informed of these possible complications, and after five months in the ICU, Michael was transferred to a Rehabilitation Hospital where more shocking revelations unfolded.
00:25:00
In this part of the video, it is revealed that during Michael’s initial operation five months ago, there was heavy brain manipulation resulting in the removal of part of his hypothalamus. The ICU did not disclose this information to Michael’s parents, and Michael suffered severe complications requiring extended stays in rehabilitation hospitals. Michael eventually became unable to walk, talk, eat, or move, necessitating round-the-clock care at home. His parents had to fight with insurance companies to cover the expenses of his care. Michael required various medical devices and procedures, such as a tracheostomy, gastronomy, and a super pubic catheter. He also needed daily injections and 27 medications administered through a feeding tube, while enduring excruciating physical and mental pain. Michael’s cognitive ability diminished significantly, and he exhibited self-harming gestures, including mimicking suicide. The narrative includes an incident where an LPN fell asleep while on duty, missing a seizure that led to pneumonia for Michael, prompting his emergency readmittance to the ICU.
00:30:00
In this segment of the video, Patty rushes to the hospital to see her son, Michael, who is on life support. Michael is given the choice to continue life support or be taken off, and he chooses to pass away comfortably. It is revealed that the procedure Michael underwent was not recommended as the first line of treatment for his condition. The doctor overseeing the care withheld critical information about alternative treatments and had substantial malpractice suits against him. Patty and David were not fully informed of the risks and complications involved in the surgery, and informed consent was lacking. Michael experienced severe complications but was not properly informed beforehand.
00:35:00
In this part of the video, it discusses the importance of informed consent in the medical field and how it should be viewed as a process rather than just a one-time event. An example is given about a case where a patient underwent unnecessary brain surgery due to lack of transparency and communication. The family, after the traumatic experience, worked towards advocating for patient rights and initiated changes in the healthcare system. This led to the passing of the Michael Schick medical transparency act in 2007, ensuring vital information about malpractice and lawsuits is made public.
00:40:00
In this segment of the video, it discusses the implementation of a law in Colorado that requires healthcare providers to disclose their track records to patients. The law was pushed by the Colorado Medical Society, urging full disclosure of providers’ information such as board certifications and criminal convictions. This law was expanded to include various healthcare providers beyond physicians. Despite an unsuccessful malpractice lawsuit against a neurosurgeon, Dr. M, some colleagues defended him as an excellent surgeon. The case highlighted the importance of patient advocacy and prompted Patty, the mother of a patient, to raise awareness about the need for transparency in healthcare to prevent similar incidents.
00:45:00
In this segment of the video, it is discussed how providers should be transparent with patients about relevant information. It is highlighted that crucial details were withheld from a family despite the difference between bad outcomes and mistakes. Specific actions, like the patient signing consent under medication, are mentioned. The narrator emphasizes how Patty continued Michael’s legacy by ensuring better healthcare practices. The impact of legislation on patient-provider conversations is acknowledged. The speaker urges viewers to share their thoughts on the story and encourages subscribing for more content on medical cases, crimes, and mysteries.