Glad everything turned out well with your friend (in the end), and sorry that all happened in the first place!
Here's my story --- when I was little (I think 4 or something, I can remember so I wasn't too young) I had really bad pneumonia and had to be admitted to the hospital. Mind you, this was like in 1978 when noone really heard of peanut allergy.
So mom made this HUGE sign that said, "Severely Allergic to Peanuts - NO PEANUTS" or something to that effect. She shows up one day to find me missing and all the nurses looking for me. I kinda remember this part, I remember being scared, hiding with my 'big bird doll' behind a couch in the tv lounge. One nurse was trying to force feed me a pb&j sandwich!!! I knew what it was, I knew I couldn't have it (by then, believe it or not, I was reading labels for myself and asking adults to read outloud to me ingredient by ingredient...boy was I a PITA!) Anyhoot - the story goes that I hit the nurse, was screaming and crying, and ran away and hid.
I believe my mom tore the nurse a new one, and a spare one, and one for rainy days.
Believe it or not she heard the "it's peanut butter not peanuts!!!" excuse.
My second story is from high school. I had eaten a roll at school that had ground peanuts in it as protein (!) to fulfill a health requirement. Anyhoot --- I get to the hospital via ambulance (I wasn't allowed to take a friend from school with me, I was terrified). So the nurses come in and start an IV ready for meds. The doctor comes in and isn't a native english speaker. HE THINKS I HAVE A PEANUT STUCK IN MY THROAT AND THAT I'M CHOKING. HELLO!!!! My mom hadn't made it there yet, and I grabbed the nurse by the arm and wouldn't let go until she promised me she'd get another doctor. She knew I was in the midst of anaphylaxis and hurried out of the room to find a REAL doctor who gave me epinephrine and benadryl via IV post-haste.
UN-BE-LIEVABLE.
Those are my horror stories...they do happen. This is why I have a medic alert bracelet I wear when dining out and traveling for business.
Adrienne
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30-something survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy
I highly recommend having you or your friend write a letter to the admin. of the hospital. Also you can contact them directly and speak to them as well.
I did both because of the care my daughter received at the ER on consecutive days.
Your complaint is taken seriously in most cases and is put out before a review board to see what could have been done differently.
It would be important to bring it to their attention to prevent this from happening again.
I hope you friend is doing better!
Shelley