Carlos Vazquez is looking for answers after he said his mother went to Doctors Hospital last month and ended up with her face swollen, bruised, and bleeding.
“All we were told was that she was okay, not to worry,” Vazquez said. “There’s no words that I can tell you right now to describe what I felt. The word doesn’t exist.”
Carlos’ mother, Isel Ferro, is battling lymphoma and was getting cancer treatments at Doctors Hospital. Last Wednesday, Carlos said around 3 a.m., Isel wound up with a swollen, bruised, and bloodied face.
“All she remembers is the nursing staff…a few of the nursing staff being very rugged and very abrasive and very nonchalant towards her condition, and telling her, like blowing her off, ‘Hey, you’re not the only patient here,” Vazquez said.
Carlos said Doctors Hospital told him his mother fell. He said his mom recalls something different saying, “She is absolutely positive that she got struck.”
Doctors Hospital told NBC 6 in a statement that it was investigating the incident.
“The safe care of our patients is our top priority. We are taking this situation very seriously and are working directly with the patient and the patient’s family to review the details of the patient’s stay and to ensure accurate communication and information," the statement read.
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The hospital's Chief Nursing Officer Diane Amado-Tate released an additional statement Wednesday:
"We are aware of the public statements of Ms. Ferro and her family regarding Doctor's Hospital. The safe care of our patients is our top priority. While we disagree with the family's statements, we are taking them very seriously and are in communication with Ms. Ferro and her family to address them. Due to patient privacy laws we cannot provide additional information regarding Ms. Ferro unless she gives us written authorization to do so. We will continue to be in touch with the family to ensure that they have accurate information."
Carlos told NBC 6 he has checked his mom out of Doctors Hospital. He said she is back home with her family, her art, and her collection of Julio Iglesias memorabilia.
