Comments on: Woman Misdiagnosed With HIV Awarded $2.5M

Massachusetts Woman Treated For HIV For 9 Years Before Learning She Never Had Virus

[mandylou4u]

Not to say anything bad about this woman, seems she''s been through enough, but I wonder if she ever had a thought to go get herself another opinion. I think I would have to, just to be sure. That''s something pretty serious.

[mswolfestock]

This is really a no-brainer. The doctor just wanted her money. There are probably thousands more patients like this woman, and the greedy doctors are laughing all the way to the bank. Doctors are getting as bad as lawyers as far as being greedy and corrupt. I''m on the same page with everybody else - GET A SECOND, OR EVEN A THIRD OPINION. IF YOU DON''T TRUST THE DOCTOR YOU ARE SEEING, FIND ANOTHER ONE. It could save your life and your life savings, too.

[jetlizhan]

when i was 19 yrs old i developed a ''lump'' in my neck area and was told it was a goiter and it was no big deal. my mom insisted i be referred to unc hosp in chapel hill, nc. turned out it was a massive malignant tumor that had been growing for 2 yrs (based on the size); it had hemorrhaged twice and the walls of the tumor were paper thin - had it hemorrhaged one more time, the cancer cells would have gone to my lungs and killed me. had i listened to the ''quack'' about the goiter thing, i wouldn''t be writing this post!!!!!!! doctors do NOT know everything. some are good, even great and some are cr@p.

[jeanner6]

I thought EVERYONE knew to get a second opinion for something this life threatening.

[bacardistuff]

My aunt was told that a lump on her leg was "nothing". Nothing turned out to me skin cancer. She underwent 3 surgeries for that lump but it was too late. Come to find out lab tests showed skin cancer a couple of months before and the doc ignored those results. She filed a lawsuit, won and died 3 months later.

[nothappyatall]

THIS is why you ALWAYS get a second opinion on any important diagnosis- cancer, HIV etc etc had she gotten a second opinion and test this never would have happened.

[tngreen]

Doctors need to take the time to listen to their patients, and managed groups need to give them that time. When they don''t, lawsuits can help them see the light.

I had a doctor who told me that his best diagnostic tool was his ear--to listen to his patients. The same doctor did not listen to me and I lost a kidney as a result. It is VERY difficult to get your doctor to listen to you and really think about all of the evidence--they want to fast-track everybody who isn''t on death''s doorstep. And this is what happens. If logic and compassion will not compel them to change, perhaps multi-million-dollar lawsuits will. My heart goes out to Ms. Serrano, who will probably spend all of her award and then some on her recovery. Best of wishes to you!

[beadazzle]

This doesn''t make her stupid,but she should have gotten more test done immediately to make sure it was the right diagnosis. She says''s she wasn''t a prostitute also. This happens so much it''s unbelieveable. My own doctor had prescribed celexa while i was still taking amitriptyline after i told him i felt i was no longer depressed but i was having a bit of a time concentrating. Little did i know that within 9 days i would be in the hospital with an enlarged heart and other problems that nearly killed me. He had not done his home work and should have known that you are to be taken off the amitriptyline for 14 days before being put on celexa. I never even got an apology from him. Needless to say that wasn''t the first time he had done this to me and now he is no longer my doctor. So people get second opinons and use the web it could save your life.

[hypnotoad72]

Well, AIDS drugs DO cause those side-effects. And it''s easy for doctors to diagnose; especially if they don''t know your history, prefer to omit parts of it, and/or think having certain symptoms combined with ambient environment equates to something. Even when there are exceptions.

[oleander8]

To: jackie0428

Feel strongly about this woman huh? She''s not a victim at all huh?

If there ever was a reason for a lawsuit - this is it.