Went to Dr. Hartig’s office for a routine physical, including blood work. What I got following that visit, was two rounds of physical therapy, months of being unable to fully use my right (and dominant) arm and months of sleeping in an arm brace that prevented me from moving my arm during the night. The nurse drawing my blood went through the vein in my arm (and I have visible veins) and pierced my tendon– resulting in a severe bicep muscle contraction, irritated nerves causing decreased feeling in my pinky finger and a massive black and blue mark. Immediately upon leaving the office, I had a burning and discomfort in my arm, but I don’t like blood work so I thought maybe it was in my head. I returned to work and about an hour later I was in so much pain that my boss convinced me to go back to the office. I could barely shift my car into gear (and I have an automatic) and by the time I got back to the doctors office (5 min down the road), I couldn’t even move my arm enough to get my coat off without help. I was immediately seen by a nurse Practitioner, who told me just to put ice on it and take advil – there was nothing else that they, or I, could do for it. A couple days later, and still unable to move my arm (and out of town for thanksgiving), I had to go to the ER and have multiple ultrasounds done to make sure there wasn’t a blood clot (because the bruise was so bad). Upon my return to the Baltimore area, I saw another physician in the area who told me that I needed physical therapy in order to regain full use of my arm (because of the constricted bicep). I returned to Dr. Hartig and asked to see the doctor himself to show him what had happened at his office. He agreed to cover my medical bills related to the injury but then refused to cover the physical therapy, stating that the injury was resolving itself. Which it was not – and according to my therapist – it never would have. In the end, I got a small check to cover the initial ultrasounds and that was all – and I subsequently misplaced the check (in the hecticness that is life) and forgot about it. I just recently found it – 2.5 years later- and called the office to ask for it to be reissued. After numerous phone calls and unreturned voicemails, the doctor refused to reissue to check. I never tried to sue because I don’t believe in it – but it would have been nice to be afforded the small courtesy of reissuing the small check (for money I was rightly owed). Lesson learned on my part – I will not hesitate to pursue legal action in the future – what goes around comes around. \r
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