ILLNESS: Compassion a casualty

I am an 80-year-old woman who had a cough for a week or so. I was in Coeur d’Alene on July 16 with my daughter, so we stopped at my doctor’s office and all was well. I was going to see a doctor, then I told the man about my cough and we were asked to wait in the car and do a video visit because they thought I had the virus COVID-19. I was disgusted so I went home.

My daughter got me in to “urgent care” online for 9 a.m. July 17, so I went. A nurse took me in a room and did my vitals. All was well. The doctor comes in, examines me, says I need a chest X-ray and a couple of prescriptions. She thinks I have bronchitis. So I pull on the gown for an X-ray. Doctor comes in and says they can’t do an X-ray because I may have COVID-19. I could not believe it! I’m 80 years old, sick and they won’t X-ray me because I could contaminate the X-ray machine. To me, this is cruel, inhumane, and strictly against medical oaths doctors and hospitals take. I have to say the doctor was stunned. They wanted me to be tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate for three days. I could be dead in three days. Unless you are well, you can’t have an X-ray. For some reason, I thought I was at a medical facility. Boy, was I wrong!

The reason I’m writing this letter is to tell old people to call “911” and hope you get help. You are not going to get it anywhere else.

What has happened to this world? Where has common sense gone? We don’t dare ask where love and compassion has gone!

Shame on all of us. I don’t know if you will print this since it is handwritten, I have no computer, but thank you for letting an old lady rant and rave for a moment.

LOUISE GUILBAULT

Post Falls