Kim, you looked absolutely gorgeous at this 1996 picture. The way you've been treated is absolutely appaling.
Have you ever managed to fix it? Do you still look like on this 2001 picture?
I had laser hair removal done 3 years ago by a dermatologist and it went fine. Now that I have a few hairs coming back, I am contemplating going back to remove it, but looking at what happened to you makes it scary.
This comment makes me boiling, boiling mad. "Where is the malpractice"?? Are you KIDDING me? Deleted.
Edited By Siteowner
Kim, that is a horrible story, told beautifully. The part when your face was burned was so unfortunate and made me sad for both you and your doctor. But then the outright deceit is absolutely unbelievable.
I am so sorry that this happened to you. However, based on the insights in this post, I think that in the future, some other young pre-med will look at you as the type of doctor she would like to become, and will not be let down.
Since naming names and such just brings you down to her level, perhaps you're right for not doing it. It would probably come back to bite your career in the *ss. I however, couldn't do everything in my power fast enough to put that skankin' beech out of business. And as far as going back for more, someone once said, "Don't let the same dog bite you twice". Get it, do ya?
I think that some of those critical comments at Kevin MD actually do the reverse of what they intended and prove your point for you. They say "there's no evidence of malpractice!" There might have been - but by apologizing and paying your bills for 4 years, your doctor stopped you from hiring a lawyer who might have found some evidence of malpractice. If the doctor DID make a mistake, she found a good way to prevent you from discovering it.
Kim, you do not need to remove your high school photo. It is gorgeous and a reflection of you. You have had the audience of this post changed from people who read your personal blog to people who read a blog about medical issues midstream, and the comment that the photo "lacks proximity to the time of the patient's surgery" (in the Kevin MD blog) was made by a person who chose to post a long, inflammatory comment without taking the time to read your entire post.
I don't know how someone who read the entire thing could miss the fact that you are a medical student, and the fact that this happened freshman year in college, in proximity to senior year of high school.
Amazing how people attack you for stating fact.
You have every right to point out the truth about what your MD did to you. It might prevent people from the same fate. AND it might encourage them to looking into protecting themselves IF something does happen. I'm all for people fixing what they screwed up, if in fact, that's what they do. Sounds more like the MD is CYA up until the legal requirements run out.
If I were you I would file a complaint with the medical board of your state. Even if they refuse to hear it, it'll be on file. If enough of those happen, the MD will have some s'plaining to do. And if you have a Craigslist.org in your area, or other similar list, you can post such info there too. There is nothing wrong with posting FACT---"she strung me along until I could not file a suit and then refused to pay for her mistake any further, even though my ordeal was not over."
As for keeping the name quiet, I would carefully word a statement in your blog that ID's the MD so that people know her tactics. FACT is not libel or slander.
I am not suit happy, I understand people make mistakes, but this indicates the MD had every intention of defrauding you. You might want to look into what her verbal contract might offer you.
and I agree---don't turn into one of these MD's---show the world that there are GOOD people who go into medicine.
You look absolutely beautiful both before and after this incident with this doctor. You are an amazing person. You've withheld that cruel doctor's name and you have a beautiful heart that allowed you to trust this person - making you think all others are as good as yourself. Thanks for the story. And you look beautiful - more now than in your high school picture.
I want to write a press release about this incident. I will pay for it. I am a 2nd year med student too but I want this doctor's story exposed to the media. Please email me if you want to write something up together and get this doctor's name out there when people search her name so at least you can protect others from that kind of manipulative behavior.
Kim,
I do understand your feelings of betrayal. I've just written my story in my book, Taking a Stand.
You go girl and be that doctor that I can trust. Not that you won't ever make a mistake, but you will be honest and ethical.
Let me know when you graduate and I'll be your first patient!
I am sorry this happened to you!
Janet
Kim -- I agree with others that you were beautiful before, but perhaps now you'll be even more beautiful. As unfortunate as this experience was for you, your ability to be a good, caring, compassionate doctor will be forever enhanced, because you will be in that unique position of "getting" it. Most doctors lose the understanding of patient fear and trepidation -- you never will. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
Trisha Torrey
EveryPatientsAdvocate.com
The author's story is a minor one compared to the horrors doctors are perpetrating on people nowadays - and then ignoring.
Have you heard of arachnoiditis? It's a neurological disorder caused almost exclusively by medical procedures. People with it are doomed to pain beyond anything anyone can even begin to imagine, unending and ever worsening. Debility to every part of the body. And early death - usually welcomed by the time it comes.
About 15% of all spinal surgeries result in so-called failed back surgery syndrome, which is usually a euphemism for arachnoiditis - but we're never even told about it before being subjected to the risks. It can be caused by epidurals, and there are many women who have developed terrible back pain years after getting epidurals during childbirth. But they're never warned about the potential. Myelograms are done blithely, as if there's no risk - yet arachnoiditis is a distinct risk of them.
How do doctors get away with this? It's simple. One, they lie. They simply do not acknowledge the existence of the disease. They dissemble, pretending even to be unaware of it. Two, they ignore it. When it starts to become apparent that's what is wrong, they get nasty - declare to the patient that the procedure was a success and there is nothing wrong; then they simply stonewall. Three, they circle the wagons. Doctors choose to protect their own, rather than help the patients. They don't take responsibility for their errors - and they punish any doctor who steps outside the circle and testifies against a bad doctor. (In my view, that makes all doctors involved guilty of whatever the original malpractice was.)
To the author of this blog: You got off easy. I'd trade what happened to you with what happened to me in a heartbeat. There are thousands of us who'd make that choice. You have a little scar on your face and you have had pain. We live with growing scars in our CSF, binding and destroying nerve roots, tethering them to the arachnoid membrane, obliterating the nutritive and excretive flow of the CSF. We live with spasticity that worsens as time goes on. And so much more. Every part of our bodies is affected. And there is no treatment - other than for pain, and usually inadequately - and no research on the disease.
If the author of this blog ends up willing to stand against other doctors about this issue, I'll be very surprised. By the time training is done, virtually all doctors have learned that the first part of the Hippocractic Oath is the only one they're expected to adhere to - that's the part about supporting other doctors, not about doing no harm.
I think you should name names, these immoral doctors count on us to keep their silences, to protect their reputations. It's all about naming names, as far as I'm concerned. I certainly would want to know who she is if I lived in the area and was considering laser hair removal.
I had a similar experience with my cat's vet -- he first admitted what they had done, but then he retracted his admission. The vets are of course, even more unregulated than the docs.
Your story is compelling, and I hope med school doesn't change your perspective. Clinicians I have talked to almost universally defend doctors who lie and cover up, the culture allows them to rationalize this behavior. I am completely flabbergasted that doctors even have to debate whether or not to reveal errors to patients -- it is immoral not to, at least when it affects the patient, it's immoral not to.
Completely unethical and immoral.
Thanks for telling your story. Stefani
Kim,
I am writing a book about plastic surgery complications in one severe case in my area, and your story would make a good anecdote to include. Please let me know if you would like to be included in my effort. My mom was a nurse before she died from complications due to radiation treatments, and she was always quick to hold hands and comfort patients, but when she was a patient herself she found everyone dealing with her case cold and uncaring. We need more doctors who give a damn, and I would love to hear about how you progress into the profession and what lessons you take to your own practce. Thanks for helping to inform the masses of an important subject that needs more exposure: elective surgery isn't always as safe as it seems.
Rich Bergeron
Wow... I could say a lot on this. I think I'll let it suffice to say that this seems to point out part of the reason God has led you to this field! Even in just telling this story - with the perspective and maturity you now possess - you are sharing your Christian world view, which is more & more rare! *muah*
Jeff - I can't seem to find an email address for you in my "comments dashboard" or whatever it's called. Can you email me at ramblestrip AT gmail DOT com about the press release? I don't mind the idea of a press release, but I DO NOT want my doctor's name anywhere near it, and I want gender-neutral pronouns used (and the other doctors' names removed) because I don't want a lawsuit on my hands. But just a general copy of my story to warn others of the real risks of the procedure - I don't have a problem with that. But I'm not interested in smearing the doctor's name - I firmly believe in Romans 12:15, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
Makes things a lot easier for me to let the Lord take care of everything. 
Because His way is perfect, whereas I'd mess everything up.
Email me about the press release, if you want to.
Wow, you can just Delete comments that people make?!? Hmmm... I wonder why my blogmates never told me about that option?
...and back to the topic, there's gonna be people only out for money in every profession. Just sad when it's someone like a doctor, who people trust to make decisions for the patient's health.
You can TOTALLY delete comments. And I always wipe trolls off of the face of the earth.
Hi Kim, Thanks for telling your story--it was very moving, and maddening. In the 2 medical errors in my family, we got no apology.
I've added some advice to patients in briefly summarizing your story on my blog. Hope that's OK--if not, let me know, and I'll remove it.
Best of luck in medical school.
Be well.
yeah i think i agree with everyone you are incredibly beautiful. i myself have a large scar on my chin that is raised i guess my story is pretty messedup cuz it started really small but for some reason it has grown much larger i shaved over it a couple of times and ibelieve it to be my own stupied fault but i was pretty amazed that they can do sometrhing for it my parents wont help me but i was thinking in the future of maybe doing something about it do u think that it was a really good improvment after your surgerys..... it looks better
thanksd bby the way u are very beutiful
you are BEAUTIFUL!!!
i know some of the pain you went through. i was also burned during a laser hair removal procedure. The bottom half of my face was burnt and it was horrible. I just wish you could have had a lawsuit atleast to put some closure to this case and heal some of the scars in your heart that are probably still there :-(
Bless your heart! Talk about greed and manipulation! She must not have known what she was doing. It is your choice, but I would not hesitate to disclose her name. It could save others from the same experience with her.
I hope you were able to ge tteh results you wanted with the surgery--you didn't post any after photos. Absolutley appalling story. i feel dr's shoudl be named, dn licenses revoked. The internet is rife with articles on how dr's can avoid lawsuits in derm practices. there is much more of this going on than we realize. these laser toting dr's are causing damage every single day. my whole decollete is scarred and damaged from a dr's laser. i didn't even ask for it; i was there to have my face done as i had some broken capillaries, and she suggested doing my chest. i now keep the area completley covered, and never wear anything other than a high neck/crew neck top. when i went to show her, she said that it was sun damage! i happen to get frequnt comments about my youthful skin and know it is not sun damage. i never had thi sscarring--big shiny dime sized areas that look horrid. make up doesn't cover them. she was so aggressive with laser that i was black and blue for weeks. she also left two pinhead size holes at side of my nose from laser. And she gave me hyper pigmentation which took 2 years to fade--from my legs. I doubt there is anything i can do. most upsetting to see my chest. it is worse than an 80 years' sun damaged skin, becasue it doens't look like skin anymore--it looks scarred adn damaged.
i really hope you have restored your beautiful looks. you shoudl also publicize her name. Let other women know. We need to know who is going to damage our faces--don't let it happen to others.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It probably wasn't easy to do, but it's so necessary. I am currently getting laser hair removal on my chin and neck. I started last year and I'm still going to get it removed. Part of the reason it's taking so long is because the damn hair is stubborn! Also, I think they keep the settings on a lower level because I'm black. They make it a point to be extremely careful and gentle with darker skin, which I appreciate.
You have every right to be angry, upset, and hurt by the way you were treated by this doctor. You were taken advantage of. Hopefully everything turned out fine for you in the end.
I think you have a really nice profile. You don't look hideous now either. You still have really nice geometry
Honey, I understand that it sucked to go through that, but your biggest problem now is your self obession. Why don't you go volunteer and help people who are really in need, instead of being so self absorbed and staring in the mirror at your "fat" body...Give me a freakin' break!
dat doc fucked up man.
Straight up messed.
nock dat bitch out.
Peace n Love
hi there, i was researching collagen injections and ended up on your journal. i had several moles removed from my face but the dermatologist screwed up and left huge sunken scars on my face. they look a lot like your April 1998 (right) picture. i was wondering after your april 1998 picture, did the skin heal and grow back itself or did the plastic surgeon filled it in? in your 2001 picture after that, your skin looks nice and flushed (not raised or sunken)
your article/story is very sad but it's also inspiring. at times i wanted to sue the dermatologist or wished bad things for her but i'm learning to cope.
Thanks for sharing your story. I am truly appalled that someone would abuse your trust and goodwill like that. I am so sorry to hear you went through this pain and suffering, and feel furious at the dermatologist, whoever she may be.
I think you'll be a fantastic doctor, having such empathy for the patient experience. So many doctors are missing this crucial skill.
And by the way, scar or no scar I think you look gorgeous! And it seems you have a beautiful personality to match.
Where did they perform the surgery to first remove the keloid? I have to small keloids. So I know how it feels when people just look at you.
I also wanted to know the same question. asked by LULU,
i was researching collagen injections and ended up on your journal. i had several moles removed from my face but the dermatologist screwed up and left huge sunken scars on my face. they look a lot like your April 1998 (right) picture. i was wondering after your april 1998 picture, did the skin heal and grow back itself or did the plastic surgeon filled it in? in your 2001 picture after that, your skin looks nice and flushed (not raised or sunken, so please tell me how did you do it?
I've been doing laser hair removal for 6 years and have never seen anything even close to what you experienced. You would have to choose a setting so far off the mark to cause those kinds of burns. As far as you not disclosing forming keloids- A burn like that would cause a raised scar whether you were prone to keloid or not.
The worst thing about your experience is that I have seen laser help so many young women take care of the hair they hate, and help them regain thier self-confidence; and that should have been the case with you.
wow thats severe. i have the same problem actually, i was burned 5 months ago by a laser, same exact situation. mine is alot smaller though, and more round. my plastic surgeon is hesitant to cut the hypertrophic scar from my face because my lip line will be uneven. i dont think it would be as noticeable because of how small the scar is.
just to let you know, I feel your pain, literally. email me if you still post on this which i doubt.
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