Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Sickle Cell Disease is a disease that can wreak havoc on individuals, especially African Americans. Much has been done for those who suffer from a disease that has life threatening consequences, but more needs to be done. The Trump administration appears to be trying for sufferers of Sickle Cell by starting an initiative, the main goal is to "improve" the lives of Americans who have the disease. It is a blood disorder that can cause tremendous pain/discomfort in people and urgent care is especially important when the disease attacks the body. A local woman who suffers from the disease had to be rushed to one of the areas' hospitals recently and she says that she had a harrowing experience when she arrived at the hospital. She said that she became ill and knew that she had to see a doctor so a relative brought her to the medical facility through the back-emergency entrance. Because of COVID concerns, the relative couldn't accompany her any further than the door entrance as she was taken inside. Now this woman has gone to Monroe Medical LSU/Conway, the alleged medical facility before; her doctor recommended the facility. As the patient was waiting to be seen, she was still in pain that only got worse. She thought that she was about to have a heart attack from the tightness that she felt in her chest, as she did her best to deal with the pain, but she began to cry because of the pain and she was all alone. No one at the hospital came to her to ask what was the nature of her visit, she sat there hoping that someone, anyone who saw her, might ask her what was the matter. As the minutes became longer and longer, this person being in pain cried and moan, but no one came. Then to make matters worse for this patient, a female doctor allegedly spoke to her in what was describes as "abusive", allegedly told her to "be quiet", and if she didn't, that "her wait would be much longer", without asking her why was she there.

The relative who accompanied her, was able to see that she hadn't been seen and asked her what she wanted to do. However, her relative may have known what was going on when he was told what the woman doctor had allegedly said, because when they arrived at the hospital, the relative allegedly "recognized" the doctor. He allegedly told her that the doctor was one who "has a reputation" at the hospital that was less than hospitable to people where she worked in/around emergency. The relative asked if she wanted to go somewhere else, as the woman believing that she "had no choice" said yes. They both left Monroe Medical Center LSU/Conway without seeing any medical personnel, as no papers were filled out while she was there. She was taken to LSU/Shreveport and was seen by doctors there as the facility offered the same kind of services that Conway offered for sickle cell patients. The woman said that she had a fever over 100 degrees when she was seen by doctors at Shreveport/LSU. She told the doctor at LSU/Shreveport about how she was treated, and the doctor said that he would inquire about what happened. It was only a few days ago (Tuesday September 22), that the woman had just come from LSU/Shreveport following treatment for Sickle Cell Disease. The woman said that she is telling her story because she felt that she was mistreated by not being seen, and by the doctor's attitude, nor even asked a courtesy question of what was the matter, believing that others may have suffered the same fate as she did.