“All I know is I had surgery that went massively wrong, and it’s ruined my life. I never asked the right questions, because I didn’t know what to ask, and I have never had answers.”
Ten years ago, Lauraine underwent a hysterectomy in private healthcare for a suspected mass. She trusted the reassurance she was given. She trusted that she was in safe hands. But her bowel perforated and she became critically ill. That moment changed the course of her life.
"I now live with three stoma bags, repeated hospitalisations, sepsis, and permanent damage to my bladder and eyes."
The physical impact has been profound and lifelong. But like so many people affected by avoidable harm, what stayed with Lauraine just as deeply was what didn't happen afterwards.
The answers never came. The explanations never arrived. The silence became its own form of harm. "What has hurt as much as the physical injuries is the lack of support, information, and honesty afterwards. I often felt ignored, misled, and left to cope alone at my most vulnerable."
Her experience reflects a wider systemic issue that crosses both public and private healthcare:
• poor communication when things go wrong
• limited transparency about complications
• gaps in aftercare
• families left searching for answers they should never have had to chase
Despite everything she has endured, Lauraine now uses her voice to protect others — she advocates so that no one else is left in the dark, grieving not just the harm itself but the lack of humanity that followed.
Her message for anyone uncertain or afraid is simple and empowering: "Ask what support will be available if something goes wrong. Seek help early from organisations like AvMA, who can guide you when you're too unwell or traumatised to advocate for yourself."
At AvMA, we stand beside people like Lauraine every day, offering clarity, compassion and expert guidance through some of the hardest moments of their lives. And we work to ensure lessons from their experiences lead to safer, more transparent healthcare for everyone.
This Christmas, you can ensure that no one has to face avoidable medical harm alone. Your monthly gift could help someone like Lauraine find the support, openness, and hope they need when it matters most.
