St. Michael's Hospital — Local services in Toronto

I share my story, knowing I’m young & healthy. Malpractice affects the vulnerable, & I can only imagine the suffering of those with serious conditions. I remain anonymous to protect my friends & family.

My open septorhinoplasty performed in 2023 didnt achieve the desired outcome. Since that time Ive attended approximately a dozen appointments with Dr. Zirkle during which the same issues were discussed repetitively. My concerns have persisted for a year & a half: right nostril obstruction, breathing difficulties, inability to blow my nose, a noticeable nasal deviation to the left, overall discomfort. I sought this revision to correct these ongoing breathing issues. 2 weeks ago, I observed that the cartilage grafts in my nose appeared more noticeable & saw a small bump on the cartilage. During preoperative blood work, I wasn't able to consult with Dr. Zirkle & subsequently emailed her this info. During a consultation the week prior, when I inquired about the normalcy of these symptoms, I received vague responses. Dr. Zirkle stated that addressing the cartilage graft issues would be re-doing what was done the first time, she preferred to proceed with the planned revision septoplasty. I often felt dismissed & that my concerns were not taken seriously. I frequently had the impression that Dr. Zirkle lacked confidence in her approach. Im not a medically qualified person & I often found myself saying in the meetings after she would just stare at me in confusion for asking questions, “I don’t know, Im not a doctor!!” I found Dr. Zirkle's communication is lacking in empathy & thoroughness.

In 2023 after the first surgery it later came to light that I was pregnant at the time a fact overlooked during the pre-surgery pregnancy test. I discovered my pregnancy a month post-surgery, at a visit to an abortion clinic referred by my family doctor. Shockingly, I was almost 9 weeks pregnant, meaning I was approx 4 weeks pregnant during the surgery. The hospital's oversight allowed me to undergo anesthesia & consume codeine & Tylenol 3, which can harm a developing fetus. As a 30-year-old woman then, experiencing pregnancy for the first time, this news was both unexpected & devastating. Had I known about the pregnancy beforehand, I'd postponed the surgery to prioritize the safety of my unborn child. I opted for an abortion due to the potential risks posed by the medications & anesthesia. This experience has left me traumatized and eroded my trust in the medical system. Horrific & heartbreaking.

I was scheduled for a revision septoplasty 2 days ago to address the nasal obstruction, with the goal of improving the right nostril opening by correcting the nose that is tilting to the left. 11am was my check-in time, my surgery was supposed to be for 2:45pm. After a 20h fast & a 5h wait in the pre-operative area, during which I was prepped with IV, Dr. Molly Zirkle cancelled my surgery at 4pm. The cancellation was due to complications in the preceding operation. It appeared that the care team was unwilling to extend their workday to accommodate my procedure. I endured a 20h fast & 5h wait, fully prepped for surgery, for nothing. No compensation was offered or provided. My spouse & I took the day off work for this procedure, I had scheduled two weeks of leave for recovery, rendering this a complete waste of time. Dr. Zirkle instructed me to contact her assistant to reschedule implying that her schedule was heavily booked& she'd try to squeeze me in.

My prep for surgery states to stop eating food after midnight, the night before surgery, to drink up to 400 ml of a clear fluid 2 hours before surgery. On the day of my surgery my check in was 11am (I had my last drink at 9am), my surgery was scheduled for 2:45pm (before cancellation). I had no food for 20 hours, the nurses didt allow me to have a beverage, not even water when asked at 11am knowing my surgery would be for 2:45. I didn't have fluids for 7h. I would have been allowed some fluids up until 2 hours before my surgery which should have...

Medical gaslighting [med-i-kuhl gas-lahy-ting]

While this issue caused unnecessary suffering, I want to emphasize that overall, I was very grateful for the care I received at St. Michael's. I was impressed by the dedication, skill, and compassion of the staff. I understand that no hospital or individual is perfect. My intention in sharing this experience is not to express anger, but to help prevent similar situations for future patients.

In May 2025, while I was a patient at St. Michael's Hospital, a Foley catheter was inserted into my urethra. At first, it felt fine, but after a few hours, it became very painful. I complained to multiple nurses and doctors, but they all dismissed my concerns. One told me, “You just have to get used to it.” Another suggested I try sleeping in different positions. Yet another recommended taking more painkillers. I followed all of their suggestions, but nothing worked.

The next morning, I again reported the pain and asked if the Foley catheter could be removed. The nurses said they needed to check with a doctor. I waited for hours without an update. By the afternoon, I asked once more about the status of my request and whether the nurse herself could remove it. She finally agreed to take a look.

Lo and behold, she discovered that the tube had been taped to my thigh too tightly, which was putting pressure on my bladder and causing the pain. Once she loosened the tape, the pain immediately went away.

My question to healthcare providers: Why did every nurse and doctor assume that I was simply being difficult or overly sensitive? Why did they assume the problem was me—rather than the device or how it had been placed?

What protocols could be implemented to verify the true source of a patient’s pain? And what new mental models could be adopted to ensure this kind of dismissive behavior—and its potentially dangerous consequences—doesn’t happen to other patients?

To address this, I respectfully suggest that protocols be developed to ensure a more thorough investigation when a patient reports significant pain—especially when caused by medical devices. This might include:

~ A standardized checklist for troubleshooting catheter-related pain before assuming patient error or sensitivity.

~ Training to help healthcare providers recognize and avoid “medical gaslighting,” where patient reports of pain are unintentionally dismissed or minimized.

~ Encouraging a culture where patient feedback is treated as valuable clinical information rather than a nuisance.

I hope this feedback will be received in the constructive spirit with which it is offered. St. Michael's has a well-earned reputation for excellence, and I believe small changes in approach could prevent unnecessary suffering and further strengthen the trust between patients...

I have actually been somewhat stunned at how incredible my experiences have been at St. Michael’s. The dates of my visits range from fall of 2023 when I saw a rheumatologist to recently (May 2024) when I fractured my wrist on the Victoria day, long weekend! Let me start with my most recent visits for a broken wrist, followed by fracture clinic appts. From the first visit at Emergency to subsequent visits at the fracture clinic, this hospital has been nothing short of outstanding. The staff made me feel cared for and valued. Triage - I am pretty sure that angels work there…Reception - outstanding. Xray dept - outstanding. Fracture doctors - outstanding. Cast staff - outstanding. I want to clarify my initial comment that I was somewhat stunned because I have had enough experiences over the last few years that have been disappointing and deflating. I have felt underserved, uncared for and blown off to some degree. I get it. The medical industry has really been treated harshly over the last few years with judgements about Covid tactics and lack of staff issues. We went from banging pots with thanks to all medical staff, ‘our heros’, at the start of Covid, to hostility towards the medical industry. If I was in this industry, I would probably feel unappreciated, overworked, frustrated and possibly less likely to be as dedicated to a large amount of negative experiences with upset patients and ‘patience’. I avoided getting my wrist seen on the long weekend because I thought I would be at the hospital for a good 10 hours or more with substandard care due to crowded emerg and indifferent staff. I brought a book and expected to make a day of it. I was out within a total of 4 hours! Victoria Day Monday! Don’t tell anyone. Stunning! St. Michael’s, from the get go, was out of this world. I feel like I should keep it a secret so that they don’t get too many people moving to them!!! I have had the privilege of being a patient of Dr. Mahendira, for my arthritis. Her department took the time and care, from start to finish, to attend to me with my issues. Even the waiting rooms are well thought out with televisions to pass the time. Although, rheumatology and fracture clinics are two separate entities of the hospital, my experiences have been, in both areas, completely extraordinary. Bravo to this hospital. I am personally, pretty critical sometimes when it comes to how people are treated in this day and age. I have only praise for the staff at this hospital and the way it is run. Thank you, St. Michael’s, for making me feel like my issues are important and that you are listening and also following up with me in a considerate, solution oriented way. St. Michael’s is synonymous with...