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Deconstructing Conventional

Lori Simpson: The Sinister Side of the Hospital System - Awareness, Advocacy and How to Not Be a Victim

Feb 13, 2026 Episode 63

Christian Elliot

A hospital can be a lifeline—or a labyrinth. When Lori Simpson’s husband entered with aspiration pneumonia, she expected a sputum culture, targeted antibiotics, and home care within days. Instead, she faced locked doors, ICU isolation, heavy sedation, DNR orders added at 3 a.m., and records that didn’t match reality. With decades across nursing, hospice, and administration, Lori knew the playbook—and still had to fight three months to bring him home. Her story is painful, but what she learned can protect your family.

We walk through the exact tools that shift outcomes under pressure: how to prepare an advance directive and medical power of attorney that actually travel with the chart; why an “I Do Not Consent” addendum (delivered by courier) matters; and how to limit blanket consents, biologics language, and HIPAA data sprawl. Lori shares calm, precise scripts to de-escalate while asserting rights: “Would you be willing to place a nasal cannula under the mask?” “Help me understand your reasoning for refusing our request.” We cover when to revoke consent on the record, how to escalate up the chain, and what to document for risk management if the EMR misrepresents events.

We also open the birth room. From positions chosen for provider convenience to broken “golden hour” promises, routine hospital workflows can derail physiology and breastfeeding. Lori, now a doula and certified perinatal advocate, details how to rehearse advocacy with your partner, protect skin-to-skin, and say no to unnecessary interventions without getting sidelined. We discuss transferring care safely, retaining your placenta, and the realities of home birth with trained teams who monitor earlier and intervene sooner when needed.

The system still holds good people, but blind trust is not a plan. Prepare in peace so you can act under pressure. If this conversation helped you feel more ready to navigate a hospital stay or a birth, share it with someone you love, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a rating or review to help others find it. Your story—and your calm voice—can change the room.

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