#1: Als die Behandlung zur Belastung wurde - Clog Talk – Zwischen Herz, Hektik und Hygiene

In this episode, we speak with Roy, who experienced medical malpractice that severely impacted him both physically and mentally. Roy had struggled with skin problems since childhood and had been receiving medical treatment for years. A new therapy offered hope: surgical treatment using electrolyte therapy was supposed to finally bring relief. But the procedure ended differently than expected. Upon waking up, Roy immediately realized something was wrong. Instead of feeling groggy, he experienced a sharp pain in his tailbone—and discovered he was lying on a large, weeping burn, roughly 20 to 25 centimeters in diameter. The cause: presumably, he had been lying in a wet environment, and the disinfectant, in combination with the high-frequency surgery, had caused the burn. When the attending senior physician confirmed the diagnosis, however, he reacted dispassionately, with an attitude Roy later described as "these things happen." This lack of empathy affected him almost more than the physical pain. It was only after another doctor casually mentioned that he could take legal action. Roy decided to go ahead with it the very next day – driven by the feeling that he hadn't been taken seriously. The weeks following the incident were extremely difficult for him. The burn was located in a sensitive area that people are reluctant to discuss and that can hardly be protected in everyday life. Sleeping, sitting, standing, working, driving – everything became a challenge. Added to this was the psychological strain: fear, shame, anger, helplessness. For Roy, one thought in particular haunted him: he came out of treatment worse off than when he went in. The conversation makes it clear how deeply he was affected not only by the mistake itself, but especially by how it was handled. What Roy wanted was understanding, a clear apology, clarification – and the feeling that his pain was being taken seriously. This episode powerfully illustrates why patient safety consists not only of processes and standards, but also of attitude, language, and empathy. And why how those affected are treated after an error often makes the difference – between healing and further injury.