Dr. Richard Joel Snyder, MD

If i could put a -5 I would. I had a near death experience with Dr. Richard Joel Snyder yesterday on 10/17/24 for a "routine" endoscopy and colonoscopy. I visited the Lovelace Westside Medical Center on Thursday 10/17 in Rio Rancho, NM for a “routine” Endoscopy and Colonoscopy with Dr. Snyder. In the recovery room, under extreme sedation, I was informed by the nurse that I had to be intubated but everything else went “fine.” I proceeded to spit up blood, cough violently, and be rushed out of the hospital as I “was the last patient.” No discharge instructions other than the AI populated normal after care instructions were provided. In fact, no mention of my intubation was in my paperwork and even more alarming, Dr. Snyder described my near death experience as a “ventilation” in his notes. Factually incorrect, potentially to protect himself and the anesthesiologist, and the hospital. My wife, my emergency contact, was not notified. In fact, I remember this clearly as I was… wheelchaired out because the medication was wearing off, the nurse said in passing as she closed the door—“he was intubated but he’s fine.” And slammed the car door. I proceeded to be in incredible pain on the drive home and kept cough up blood. I went home and hoped the pain would subside as I was told everything was “fine.” About 30 mins into my home recovery, I kept coughing and my left lung had increasing pain and felt like I was being stabbed in my chest. We called the Lovelace Dr on call and she confirmed I was indeed intubated and given a paralytic! I was instructed to be rushed to the ER room for further evaluation and medication, all which should have been provided at Lovelace Hospital. I am in the ER currently and have been diagnosed with an inflamed uvula, and aspiration of stomach acid or other bodily fluid on my left lung. I have contacted Lovelace’s patient advocacy group, considering the local media, and a malpractice attorney for this horrific inhumane treatment. To rush a patient out of the hospital and purposely hide the complication of surgery, is beyond cognition, reprehensible, fraudulent, and I am certain malpractice. I hope to enact change for this horrific experience, and hopes this public pressure will make Lovelace take care of all my medical bills and any unforeseen medical costs. Dr. Snyder should have his license revoked for purposely falsifying my discharge paperwork and not treating the anesthesiologists mistake.

He is doing exactly what he should be doing.