In a profoundly unsettling incident, a 31-year-old IT technician finds herself jobless and partially blind after a distressing medical ordeal allegedly sparked by a misdiagnosis at a privately run hospital in Bangkok. The woman, known as Sasinan (surname withheld for privacy), turned to the Sai Mai Tong Rot relief and emergency Facebook page to share her harrowing experience.
Her plight began on June 18 when she noticed a red eye and felt a sore throat. Hoping for a simple solution, she picked up some over-the-counter medication, but it offered no relief. Determined to get professional help, she visited a privately run hospital in Phahon Yothin on June 20. There, a doctor diagnosed her with tonsillitis and administered an antihistamine injection, advising her to rest at home.
However, things took a dark turn when she returned home. Sasinan reported severe chest pain, a full-body rash, blurred vision, and swollen lips. Alarmed, she contacted the same hospital and secured an appointment with a specialist the next day. This time, the diagnosis was chickenpox, and the same baffling antihistamine shot was given, following which she was admitted to the hospital.
Her condition, however, only deteriorated. The rashes aggressively spread, and she lost complete vision in her left eye while becoming half-blind in her right. The following day, she was rushed to the intensive care unit, receiving yet another unsettling antihistamine injection. Her condition worsened to the point where she felt dazed and numb. Despite spending a week in the ICU, her state showed no signs of improvement.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the initial hospital transferred her to a different medical facility. There, another doctor diagnosed her with advanced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome— a rare, severe skin disorder often triggered by an allergic reaction to medication or an illness. She endured 45 grueling days in the ICU of the second hospital. While the rashes seemed to improve gradually, her vision remained irreparably damaged. Eventually, she was sent back to the initial hospital for further treatment, spending an additional month there before being discharged to continue her recovery at home.
Sadly, Sasinan’s vision has not returned, and she continues to suffer from blisters on her face and other parts of her body. The hospital continues her treatment, but her life has been profoundly impacted. Visually impaired, she has lost her job and seen her hopes of launching an online start-up crumble. Desperate and frustrated, she contemplates suing the first hospital for what she believes was a dangerous misdiagnosis that catapulted her into this nightmare.
Her story has struck a chord on social media, serving as a cautionary tale about the catastrophic consequences of medical misdiagnoses. While she battles to reclaim her life, the need for diligent and accurate healthcare becomes ever more pressing.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. There has to be some accountability for what happened to her!
Medical misdiagnoses can happen, but this seems egregious. The hospital should face a serious inquiry.
Can’t believe they gave her the same antihistamine three times! Even a basic Google search would raise red flags about Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.
Absolutely, Sarah. This doctor needs their license reviewed.
Imagine thinking you have tonsillitis and ending up partially blind. Horrifying.
Medical professionals are humans; mistakes happen. What we need is a better system to catch these errors faster.
Sure, but this isn’t a simple mistake. It’s incompetence. Huge difference.
Incompetence, maybe, but also a systematic issue. Hospitals should have checks in place to catch such gross errors.
This is why we need more regulations in private healthcare.
Regulations help, but they must be properly enforced.
I know someone who had a similar issue but in a public hospital. This isn’t just about private vs. public healthcare.
Exactly. The focus should be on better training and strict professional standards.
Absolutely. Every patient deserves competent and empathetic care.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome can be very tricky to diagnose for GPs. That said, how it was mishandled is shocking.
True, but the doctor’s persistence in treating with antihistamines despite her worsening condition suggests negligence.
Poor woman. All she wanted was simple treatment and now her life is shattered. What kind of justice can you get for that?
There’s no real justice, but financial compensation can help her rebuild her life somewhat.
Money can never replace her health and dreams. This goes deeper than just compensation.
This is why I don’t trust doctors. They’re not infallible and make mistakes just like everyone else.
It’s not about mistrusting doctors; it’s about improving the system and education to prevent such tragic outcomes.
Hard to improve a system that is so fundamentally flawed.
This should be a wake-up call for improving patient safety protocols.
Agreed, but will anything actually change? Cases like this have been happening for years.
You’re right, it seems like there’s always talk but no real action.
Change is slow but advocating for it is the first step.
Stories like this make me concerned for my elderly patients who might not be as vocal or aware of their rights.
This is so true. Vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, need more advocacy.
Indeed. We must step up efforts to safeguard patient rights.
What about the responsibility of following up and seeking a second opinion? Always important.
When you’re in severe health, questioning trained professionals isn’t exactly top priority.
True, but awareness is key. Always get a second opinion if things start to worsen.
This terrifies me as a parent. What if this had been my child?
So heart-wrenching. It makes you think twice about trusting doctors fully.
Definitely. Doctors need more rigorous checks and balances.
That hospital should lose its accreditation. Treating someone like that is inexcusable.
Revoke their license and make an example out of them. Enough is enough.
Absolutely. Only harsh penalties will encourage change.
This reads like a nightmare. Can’t even imagine her anguish.
She should have been more proactive. If she went to another hospital sooner, this might have been avoided.
Not everyone has the privilege to hop from one hospital to another. Get real.
People who blame the patient don’t understand systemic failure. This is on the healthcare providers.
Precisely. Victim blaming won’t fix the broken healthcare system.
Maybe the initial diagnosis was plausible but the follow-ups were awful. This needs thorough investigation.
Even the initial diagnosis sounds questionable. Tonsillitis doesn’t result in severe rashes.