MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio denies    
Health Care to Cleveland resident    


So... you're thinking of going to MetroHealth Hospital, or one of its satellite health care facilities, in Cleveland Ohio, to have a medical problem addressed.

Read the following sordid experience very carefully, and then decide if you really want to entrust them with your health and well being.


Date: 03-13-2010 Patient Medical Record No: 0362856 undergoes surgery at MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio to remove 3 or 4 small bladder cancer tumors. During the procedure, without the patient's knowledge and consent, a kidney stent is implanted under the direction of Dr. J. Patrick Spirnak by a trainee doctor.

Using the patient as an experimental animal, the doctor neglects to remove the kidney stent, at the end of the procedure at a MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio.

In recovery, the patient is never informed that a device was implanted. The discharge paperwork, supplied by the MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio, never makes mention that any device was implanted.
  • Prior to surgery no mention that a kidney stent might/could/would be required. Had such an eventuality occured, the patient would have refused the device in writing.

  • Upon regaining consciousness in recovery, at the MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio, had the patient been informed that a kidney stent was implanted, patient would have refused discharge until the device was removed.

  • With the exception of using the unconsciousness and vulnerable patient as a training tool, there was no medical reason to implant any device during the surgical procedure performed at the MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland Ohio.


Date: 04-12-2010 Post surgical follow-up by patient medical record no: 0362856 at MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio complains of continuous pain and blood in the urine to Dr. J. Patrick Spirnak. No mention that symptoms could be caused by implanted kidney stent. Nor was any mention ever made that an appointment needs to be scheduled to remove said kidney stent.


Date: 05-26-2010 Appointment for BCG chemotherapy, at MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland Ohio, for patient medical record no: 0362856 delayed due to bladder infection. Patient still complaining of continuous pain and blood in the urine. Still, no mention that symptoms could be caused by implanted kidney stent. Still, no mention ever made that an appointment needs to be scheduled to remove said kidney stent.


Date: 06-02-2010 BCG chemotherapy is administered to patient medical record no: 0362856 at MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio. Patient still complains of continuous pain and blood in the urine. No mention that symptoms are caused by implanted kidney stent. No mention ever made that an appointment needs to be scheduled for removal of said kidney stent.


Date: 06-08-2010 Patient medical record no: 0362856 cancels any further BCG chemotherapy treatment, at MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland Ohio, until kidney stent is removed.

Patient complains of debilitating pain and unable to work since last BCG chemotherapy treatment.

Ooops.... Dr. J. Patrick Spirnak discovers medical error made during surgery. Personally calls the patient, and it's obvious by his tone of voice that they goofed with a capital 'F' when he leaves a message to the effect, "you tell us when, you tell us how, you tell us where you want the device removed."


Date: 06-09-2010 Patient medical record no: 0362856 calls Dr. J. Patrick Spirnak's office and talks with nurse to set up an appointment for kidney stent removal. Patient species procedure to be performed with a 'local' and 'Versed' (Midazolam), which is IV sedation, to attenuate the extreme pain being experienced.

Versed (Midazolam) is administered as a matter of course to patients undergoing endoscopy and colonoscopy exams.

MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio administers Versed (Midazolam) to patients while being wheeled into surgery.

Because of a severe gag reflex, Patient medical record no: 0362856, is routinely given Versed (Midazolam) for dental work (extractions, surgery, and fillings) since 1992.



MetroHealth Hospital calls to inform patient medical record no: 0362856 that a procedure is scheduled for 06-17-2010 at 1:30pm for kidney stent removal. The procedure is to be performed at MetroHealth Hospital's outpatient surgical center located at: 4330 West 150th Street, Cleveland Ohio.


Date: 06-17-2010 Patient medical record no: 0362856 arrives at MetroHealth Hospital outpatient surgical center located: 4330 West 150th Street, Cleveland Ohio for kidney stent removal.

Patient is rated at 100% discount, which is FREE medical care due to his financial condition. Patient's income beneath poverty level since 2007 and has not been able to afford to heat his home. All rated patients are charged a co-payment based upon the type of service to be rendered. Co-payments are due at the time services are rendered.

Because scheduled procedure is the result of negligence on the part of MetroHealth physicians, patient refuses to tender co-payment.

While being processed for procedure by staff nurse, it is learned that IV sedation with Versed (Midazolam) HAS NOT been made.

Attending physician J. Patrick Spirnak of MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland Ohio, tells patient to call his office to reschedule procedure with the correct medications reserved.

It was fortuitous that patient refused to tender co-payment.... Since NO SERVICES WERE RENDERED, no co-payment is due.

Upon arriving home, patient calls Dr. J. Patrick Spirnak's office 216-778-4257 at MetroHealth Hospital Cleveland Ohio to reschedule kidney stent removal with the correct medications reserved.

Computerized scheduling system rejects procedure appointment. The patient's account is in 'financial hold' for failing to tender co-payment for a procedure that never occured.

Patient advised that he would be contacted by 'the nurse' for further action. No contact by any nurse or other representative of MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio has occured.


Date: 06-23-2010 Excruciating pain experienced every day, still waiting for appointment from MetroHealth Hospital of Cleveland Ohio, to remove kidney stent.

In desperation, a complaint is lodged via email address found on MetroHealth Hospital's website, and hears.... absolutely nothing in return.

01 - MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland Ohio denies Medical Care


FRANK SYMPTOMS experienced from kidney stent implanted by MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio without any medical reason.

  1. Right side back pain, over kidney, feels like someone is stabbing me inside with a philips-head screwdriver. Aggravated by any type of physical activity.

  2. Device has shifted/dislodged/unraveled, experiencing intermittent stabbing pains in lower abdomen, at times so severe that I double over in pain. Stooping or bending over will aggravate.

    Inner lining of bladder being scraped and abraded, passing pieces/parts in urine.

  3. Light to moderate exercise (walking) will cause light to moderate blood in the urine (brown/orange).

    The shock-waves traveling up the legs into the lower abdomen from ordinary walking, even from room-to-room, causes cramping-like pain, starting in the pubic region and radiating across the lower belly and up the right side.

  4. Any type of moderate to heavy exercise/lifting will cause hemorrhage-like blood in the urine (bright red), starting 2 - 8 hours after the event and lasting for several hours. This includes carrying groceries into the house, mowing the lawn, running the vacuum sweeper, and any kind of lifting.

    Experiencing severe cramping-like abdominal pain from any type of moderate to heavy labor.

  5. Continuous downward heavy-like pressure deep in the groin that makes urination difficult.

  6. The pain and anguish lasts so long that my mental attitude is adversely affected.

  7. Once I start moving around at the start of a new day the pain begins, and doesn't let up. It will finally get so bad, I have to lay down for 2 - 3 hours until the pain subsides.



Date: 06-27-2010 Telephone message left at Dr. J. Patrick Spirnak's office 216-778-4257 at MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland Ohio, with follow-up notice that NO appointment has yet been scheduled to remove kidney stent, and that because of extreme continuous pain, am unable to work.

I also specified that an appointment is required with hospital administration to discuss compensation for Pain and Suffering as a result of being placed on 'finacial hold' for failing to tender co-payment for a procedure that never occured.

MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio finally responds on 08-03-2010.


Date: 07-06-2010 This website launched when it becomes apparent that MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio has no intentions of taking responsibility for the negligent actions of its physicians and has dumped the patient; to inform the world what a fine, upstanding, and honorable NOT...! organization MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio is.


Date: 07-07-2010 Certified letter with return receipt sent to MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio - invoice for lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses as a result of canceled procedure to remove kidney stent on 06-17-2010 because required medications not reserved. Demand for compensation also made for pain and suffering as a result of medical error made during 03-13-2010 surgery.

Click Here to View (Microsoft Word required)


Date: 07-15-2010 A plea for help, to the State of Ohio....

02 - MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland Ohio denies Medical Care


Date: 07-19-2010 In accordance to Section 1 Article 1 of the State of Ohio Constitution, and the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on free speech. MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio is owned by the taxpayers of Cuyahoga County.

But apparently MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio can't take negative publicity - the entry was deleted before an hour expired.

03 - MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland Ohio denies Medical Care


Date: 07-19-2010 Patient medical record no: 0362856 scheduled for cystoscopy exam of bladder to view success of surgery and follow-up BCG chemotherapy treatment at MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio. Since patient CAN NOT work and earn money as the result of negligence on the part of MetroHealth physicians, patient can not afford money for gasoline to drive to MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio, or pay to park, or tender co-payment for cystoscopy exam.

Patient does not have any funds available to pay for appointment.

MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio doesn't bother calling patient, like they usually do, to find out why.

Proof positive that MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio dumps patient in an attempt to avoid taking responsibility for medical error committed by staff physicians.

MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio has at NO TIME denied the allegations of any medical error committed by their physicians, either orally or in writing.


Date: 07-27-2010 A second plea for help to Dennis Kucinich, who has been critical of MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio for instituting a co-payment requirement program against patients who can least afford to pay.

04 - MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland Ohio denies Medical Care

05 - MetroHealth Hospital in Cleveland Ohio denies Medical Care



Date: 08-03-2010 The nurse from Dr. J. Patrick Spirnak's office at MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio finally calls and apologizes for any "miscommunication and/or misunderstanding" on their part....

How magnanimous of them.

After almost two months of debilitating pain and unable to work and manage two businesses, after having to try selling personal possessions to pay the bills and put food on the table, after suffering the humiliation of applying for public assistance through the county - an apology at this time is woefully inadequate.

Two letters, one sent certified, received outlining what the nurse from MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio relayed verbally.

Kidney stent removal scheduled for 08-17-2010.


Date: 08-05-2010 Receives letter from MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio, patient access services department, billing co-payment to patient for necessary procedure caused due to negligence of staff physicians.

Being unable to work due to debilitating pain caused by MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio, and without funds, patient deducts co-payment from invoice sent to MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio on 07-07-2010 and mails an updated copy to patient services department.


Date: 08-10-2010 Presurgical testing/exam performed at MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio for 10-17-2010 kidney stent removal. While providing a urine sample, part of the kidney stent was passed.... Medical staff confirmed, small section of blood-filled stent passed in urine.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but these things aren't supposed to fall apart.




MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio would be delighted to hear your comments and thoughts on their intent to deny medical care to a qualified Cleveland, Ohio resident and jeopardize his life: Click Here

To contact the person victimized by MetroHealth Cleveland Ohio Click Here