Every one assumes that I am dead, after seeing the sign and the somber man week
after week, year after year. But in the words of Billy Crystal, “I was only
mostly dead!”
My tumor did its damage, and I have spent the last nine years readjusting my
life so that the losses are not that apparent. I must admit that I have my
periods of sorrow for what is gone, but am so overwhelmingly grateful to just
be alive that they quickly pass.
We each have our ways of adjusting. After many long discussions, trying to make
sense of it all , my husband and I decided that our obligation was to inform as
many people as possible, urging them to question their health care options, to
demand what is necessary and to be ever vigilant for your life.
Many people have wanted this Web Site, and so we are beginning. How it grows and
evolves will be up to us all. Love one another and take good care, treasuring
the moment, as we have learned it is all that we have for sure. God bless,
Jill.
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Greeting from Paul Ruskin
Thank you for taking the time to look at our website.
I began picketing Kaiser Permanente in Kensington, Maryland on September 15,
1995. The sign I carry these days is the third, but the message has always been
exactly this:
KAISER MISDIAGNOSED MY WIFE'S BRAIN TUMOR FOR 4 YEARS
WITHOUT EVER DOING A CAT-SCAN. WHY?
Thousands of people have asked questions about this somewhat shocking statement;
But so often my reply is cut short by the changing of a traffic signal on
Connecticut Avenue.
Some people have called us at home, which I have actually encouraged. But I
suspect that perhaps the reason more people have not done so is their
discomfort about money; namely, that I'll ask them to contribute some!
So I think our first order of business on the website should be the following
statement:
WE NEITHER SOLICIT NOR ACCEPT MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS.
( slave labor, yes )
By far, the most-asked question goes something like " Is your wife still alive?"
Having read this far, you know the happy answer to that one! This is often
preceded or followed by "What happened to her?" (Note: Jill died later of unrelated
causes on November 30, 2011.)
Before I present that history, let me clarify something about my wife's name.
Her full name is Diana Jill (Schilling) Ruskin. Her medical records read Diana,
but she has always preferred Jill. About the Schilling……. Is she related to the
famous baseball pitcher? Yes, a distant cousin, according to her mother. But
that's another story.
Here, then, is what happened
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In the autumn of 1987, Jill, who was then a member of Kaiser, underwent an eye
exam for a new pair of glasses. This exam took place at United Optical in
Rockville, Maryland. It was discovered that she had elevated intraocular
pressure. It was recommended that she see an ophthalmologist.
-
On November 5, 1987 Jill was examined by Dr. Judith Gadol (#585) at the
Kensington, Maryland Kaiser Center. Dr. Gadol drew a question mark in the
medical record. Dr. Gadol did not do a visual field exam, nor did she order a
CAT Scan.
-
On March 7, 1988, Jill was again examined by Dr. Gadol who, again, did not do a
visual field exam or order a CAT Scan.
-
On March 22, 1988, Jill was given a visual field exam by a Kaiser technician,
at the same center, upon Dr. Gadol's orders. Dr. Gadol did not order a CAT
Scan.
-
On July 14, 1988, Jill was given another visual field exam, as above. Dr. Gadol
did not order a CAT Scan.
-
On August 19, 1988, Jill was examined by Dr. Gadol, who told Jill that she had
glaucoma. Dr. Gadol did not order a CAT Scan.
-
On November 3, 1988 Jill was examined by Dr. Gadol. Dr.Gadol did not order a
CAT Scan.
-
On February 3, 1989, Jill was examined by Dr. Gadol. Dr. Gadol did not order a
CAT Scan.
-
On April 12, 1989 Jill was examined by Dr. Gadol. Dr. Gadol did not order a CAT
Scan.
-
On June 6, 1989, Jill was given another visual field exam. Dr. Gadol did not
order a CAT Scan.
-
On October 6, 1989 Jill was examined by Dr. Gadol. Dr. Gadol did not order a
CAT Scan.
-
On February 5, 1990 Jill was examined by Dr.Gadol. Dr. Gadol did not order a
CAT Scan.
-
On August 10, 1990 Jill was examined by Dr. Gadol. Dr. Gadol did not order a
CAT Scan.
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On September 11, 1990, Jill was given another visual field exam. Dr. Gadol did
not order a CAT Scan.
-
On November 2, 1990 Jill was examined by Dr. Gadol at which time Jill reported
a new symptom of "colored spots" which is evidenced in the record. This
prompted a very brief discussion of severe headaches, but nothing is noted in
the record. Dr. Gadol did not order a CAT Scan.
-
On April 12, 1991, Jill was examined by Dr. Gadol. Dr. Gadol did not order a
CAT Scan.
-
On July 29, 1991, Jill was examined by Dr. Gadol. Dr. Gadol did not order a CAT
Scan.
-
On November 7, 1991, Jill was given another visual field exam. She was also
examined by Dr. Gadol. Dr. Gadol drew another question mark in the record, and
her notes clearly indicate uncertainty, yet she did not order a CAT Scan.
-
Jill changed health care providers on January 1, 1992; she joined Capital Care.
She had to wait eleven months for coverage of her pre-existing eye problems.
-
Jill's new ophthalmologist, Dr.Joel Engelstein, did not see the nerve damage
associated with glaucoma. He said Mrs. Ruskin did not have glaucoma, nor had
she ever had it. He ordered a single CAT Scan,which was done on April 22, 1993.
This revealed a meningioma in the back of her head "about the size of a peach."
-
The tumor was surgically excised by craniotomy on June 28, 1993, by Dr.
Frederic Schwartz.
-
Two final observations: Jill's reported symptom of frequent, severe headaches
was not noted at any time by Dr. Gadol. Jill's only treatment throughout this
ordeal? Eye drops.
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