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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be totally shocked by this and if not how do I complain?

59 replies

TooTiredToThinkOfAUsername · 14/04/2015 06:20

DD (6 mths) has been poorly with an ear infection. 5 days ago I took.her to docs because she was having a lot of discharge from her ear. He said she had a perforated ear drum. He took a swab. She was then really quite poorly and I took her back to the docs yesterday. Swab results in. He prescribed gentamicin.

I didn't read the prescription til I got home but then thought I didn't want to give it to her...

Three years ago a colleague happened to tell me that just after her first son was born a pediatrician at the hospital gave him gentamicin without asking her. He is now deaf. She told me this had been caused by the gentamicin and there is a campaign or group of people similarly affected. Just absolutely awful. When I read the prescription when I got home I saw that it was for gentamicin. Oh I thought. That was what was used on X's son. I did a quick check on the internet and the first page of results suggested that yes gentamicin caused hearing loss! But I thought maybe it's like the mmr scare and not actually true. After all a Dr prescribed this! So I got my sister, bil and my Dad (all science phds and bil's sis also gp so they're all super at researching stuff for me!) on the case.

They found that: In general gentimicin can cause hearing loss but not always. In the case when there is a perforated ear drum it will always cause hearing loss as it will destroy the inner ear!!!!! DD has a perforated ear drum and the Dr knew this because he told me in the first place and her ear was still being puss-y. I am absolutely shocked. If a series of chance events and my memory hadn't all come together I would have used the ear drops and would have destroyed her hearing. I'm both quite upset and also so incredibly relieved.

Aibu to feel this way?

If not how do I complain to the docs? I don't want anyone else to experience / risk this!

OP posts:
StrawberryMojito · 14/04/2015 06:26

I'd definitely question it at your GP surgery. However, I wouldn't go in all guns blazing just in case he can easily refute what you have been told. If it was me though, I'd definitely be asking for a different course of treatment.

1hamwich4 · 14/04/2015 06:26

I think what I would do is go back to the surgery, see another doctor, and explain your concerns.

You can always complain if you're stillnot happy but give them a chance to redeem themselves first.

1hamwich4 · 14/04/2015 06:27

still not

stupid keyboard update

ovumahead · 14/04/2015 06:33

This is simply dreadful and you have every right to feel upset and annoyed. I would put something in writing to the GP and copy in the practice manager - perhaps the GP doesn't know this info (tthey don't know everything!) and writing it as a way of sharing this rather than an ovet complaint could be very helpful. Also consider copying the pharmacist or pharmacy in that dispensed the medication as it's also their job to check that the correct prescription has been made to help prevent doctor error. Before doing all this i would try to find some hard scientific evidence in the form of research paoer/s to back up your claim if you can - sounds like your family could help with this. Ifnot, do it anyway. But definitely take your DD to a different doctor and get a different prescription!

StrawberryMojito · 14/04/2015 06:33

By the way, a quick look on Google says that it often causes hearing loss if used for prolonged periods and although there are cases of hearing loss after 3-5 days, it is not as common as your family would suggest. That said, I still wouldn't take the risk unless it was the only treatment available and not treating the infection would cause hearing loss anyway.

shewept · 14/04/2015 06:35

A complaint isn't the first option. Return to the doctors surgery and see another doctor. See what they say.

Where did your family get the information they gave you? It may help to to be able to give some credible sources as to where you got the information from.

NobodyLivesHere · 14/04/2015 06:35

Definitely query it. If you want to complain you need to contact the practise manager.

Germgirl · 14/04/2015 06:36

Is it gentamicin ear drops?
I'm sure it must be as gentamicin can't be given orally, only topically or by IV. the drops won't cause the hearing loss that IV can, please don't worry.

watchingthedetectives · 14/04/2015 06:46

Agree with Germgirl the ear drops work topically and are not absorbed.

The problems come with IV use and prolonged raised serum concentrations which will not happen with drops. When people are on it IV it is carefully monitored and often used in one off doses only.

BILs sister should know this

See another GP but probably best not to complain until you have got your facts straight

ColdCottage · 14/04/2015 06:46

Can you also post links here? I'd be interested to read them.
Hope your DC is ok.

Laurel1979 · 14/04/2015 06:50

Gentamycin drops are used frequently to treat ear infections, and are recommended as one of the first line treatments by ENT in our area even in cases of perforated tympanic membrane. IV Gent is a different matter and generally only given in very sick babies where clinically indicated. If concerned speak to your GP, rather than Dr Google.

Original poster
TooTiredToThinkOfAUsername · 14/04/2015 07:17

Thanks for your replies. Yes you are right a complaint is too much in the first instance but I should feed back / question it. Do I just write a letter or email direct to the gp? Or also copy in practice manager from the off?

Just to clarify also that my "researchers" did say gentamicin CAN be ok but it absolutely must not be used in the case of a perforated ear drum.

OP posts:
shewept · 14/04/2015 07:26

But where is their info coming from? Call the surgery today, and see if someone can call you back. An email or letter will take too long and your DD needs something asap, really.

StrawberryMojito · 14/04/2015 07:26

m.netdoctor.co.uk/eyes/medicines/genticin-eye-and-ear-drops.html

This is from Dr google. Read the "not to be used with" bit at the end.

Original poster
TooTiredToThinkOfAUsername · 14/04/2015 07:35

Re DD she seems a lot better today - so I think she's fighting it off without the medicine anyway which is a relief. It's the first day she's not woken up with a puss encrusted ear.

OP posts:
shewept · 14/04/2015 07:38

It also say that its is used sometimes depending on the stage its at. The point is if you ring the and say 'the internet says' they are likely to not take want you are saying seriously. However if she can site something with a little more credentials and ask why this has been prescribed on this occasion. I lt could be that this is one of the cases where its ok to use and it hasn't been properly explained to the OP.

Original poster
TooTiredToThinkOfAUsername · 14/04/2015 07:39

I don't know where sis and bil got info from but I know bil's sis discussed it with her gp friends and my dad looked into it and said first three hits from Google - nhs, patient.Co.UK and one other all said do not use - let alone more in depth research. I think by mentioning those sites he was trying to get across the idea that this info was very readily available.

And yes it was ear drops.

OP posts:
Original poster
TooTiredToThinkOfAUsername · 14/04/2015 07:40

X post shewept!

I see what you are saying... I suppose of I phrase it as a question and mention the nhs site? Or my bil's sis?

OP posts:
Original poster
TooTiredToThinkOfAUsername · 14/04/2015 07:42

IF not of :/ stupid autocorrect :(

OP posts:
shewept · 14/04/2015 07:50

Oh that's great news. Still follow it up. If you are correct and it shouldn't have been prescribed, then need to be made aware. If its one of those cases where it is used then your mind is at rest.

shewept · 14/04/2015 07:52

Whoops x post agai Grin

Yes a question would be better, sounds good.

Skylander1 · 14/04/2015 08:02

My very sick daughter had it in neonatal, she is profoundly deaf, I knew there were links to drugs but no one at the hospital has ever seemed that bothered when I mention it, I think (although may be wrong) it's a cheaper drug alternatives can be used but are more expensive. We don't know if it did cause my dd hearing loss it could be a number of other things as well.

itsmeitscathy · 14/04/2015 08:06

Don't complain- it's the first line antibiotic for lots of illnesses. It's not the doctors fault that it has side affects- all medicines do. Go back and ask for something else. I have hearing loss so always check I'm not being prescribed it and there's never a problem.

TheFirstOfHerName · 14/04/2015 08:18

Go back to the GP, explain your concerns, and then listen while they explain the evidence-based medicine they are practising. For example, that gentamicin ear drops do not have the same adverse effects reported as IV gentamicin. If you are still concerned after that, then speak to the practice manager.

TheFirstOfHerName · 14/04/2015 08:24

Some GPs do prescribe a short course of gentamicin ear drops, even when perforation is present. You have every right to ask for an alternative antibiotic, or to not use it, if you feel that the risk of hearing loss outweighs the risk of complications of infection.