S01 Episode 5: The Outcomes

The episode "The Outcomes" of "The Retrievals" podcast investigates the lasting effects of a fentanyl theft at the Yale Fertility Clinic, focusing on the dismissal and minimization of patients' pain. It highlights the distrust in the medical system experienced by women who underwent painful and unmedicated egg retrievals. Patients recount feeling ignored and gaslighted by healthcare providers, leading to lasting trauma and difficulty trusting medical professionals. The episode also explores the challenges of suing for ignored pain, referencing a paper on gendered injustice in medical malpractice law. Additionally, the Connecticut Nursing Board's decision to reinstate Donna's nursing license, despite her reckless disregard for patient safety, is examined. The episode concludes with the ambivalence felt by many patients, balancing anger and gratitude towards the clinic that ultimately helped them conceive.