REVIEW: New York Presbyterian-Cornell Hospital, 525 E 68th St., Manhattan, NY I thought this was the best hospital in New York City; however, I was so wrong. My son has Transverse Myelitis, and he was never adequately treated for such a condition. My son now has FIVE bedsores; two on his behind, one on his testicle, and two on his heels of his feet. My son made a call to 311 and complained about neglect; therefore, Ms. Lorraine Baker(Administrator — with Patient Services) took my son’s phone privileges away and no longer allowed his mother to visit. I legally tape recorded Ms. Bakers threat to do such. There is NO Patient ADVOCATE at this hospital, as there is at most hospitals. She did not allow my son to talk or see his mom for Thanksgiving, her Birthday, New Years, or any Holiday. To prevent a patient the rights to making and receiving phone calls and visits, is against the Patient Bill of Rights. My son was left almost a month sobbing from pain and suffering from Transverse Myelitis symptoms and bedsores. It is my understanding that two of the bed sores became stage IV and the bone and muscle are exposed and got a very bad bacterial infection due to gross negligence. It is my understanding that they had to do surgery on two of the bed sores yesterday, but could not confirm. They have a police officer(could be Hospital Police) outside my son’s door as if he is a common criminal, to make sure no one sees the condition he is in. It is my understanding the hospital is on DAMAGECONTROL(to protect themselves from a malpractice law suit); therefore, they do not want anyone to confirm he has the bedsores and/or surgery. The hospital will not allow him to talk to any friends or family to confirm if he had surgery or not, and no one can get close to seeing him. This is not the best hospital in NYC; it is a DISGRACE to our health care system. I am forced to seek legal help JUST to talk and see my son. A few good employees at this hospital have called me to say they feel so bad for my son, that he is mistreated — yelled at and neglected. There is NO compassion. That one phone call my son made to 311(with complaint for neglect — that the bedsore prove he was telling the truth…) has turned my son and my life UPSIDE down. The hospital tried to isolate my son; they put him in the psych ward after he called 311 and treated his transverse myelitis symptoms with anti-psychotic medications that had horrible adverse side effects. I contacted the Attorney Generals Office and NYS Governors Office and soon after that — my son was given a psychological evaluation, that showed he did NOT have the conditions that they put in his medical records. He then was taken OUT of the psych ward and put back on the medical floor. I have since been told by the few good hospital employees at this hospital(and there are some, thank God) that this particular hospital gives great care to the rich and famous; however, if a patient does not have private insurance(has medicaid) they get horrible care, if any. A social worker at this hospital on 5 Central told me that they do NOT take Medicaid patients and tried to discharge him when he was sick; however, no other place would take him like that. The Social Worker would not work with my son to get his health insurance re-certified(partially her fault it was terminated, in my opinion); therefore, they send me all the unpaid bills. Bills for services now; of neglect. They had to get my son some type of air/foam bed for the bedsores. They will not even tell us what the name of the bacterial infection he got there. The doctors refuse to show him copies of test results or give him updates on his condition. This place has become our NIGHTMARE. The motto of this hospital is «PUTTHEPATIENTFIRST» — someone that works there told me, that motto is ONLY if you are RICH or FAMOUS.
