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In January 2020, Laura Czar made a visit to the Yale Fertility Center in Connecticut for an egg retrieval procedure. Just two months earlier, she had undergone a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Concerned that her treatment might affect her ability to conceive, Czar decided to freeze her eggs. After completing a course of hormone therapy to stimulate egg production, the day arrived for their removal.
The procedure involved inserting a needle through the vaginal wall into the ovary. Czar would be awake but sedated with fentanyl for pain relief and midazolam to induce drowsiness. She thought it would be a breeze, considering her past experience with anesthesia. However, she soon found herself wide awake and in excruciating pain. Despite her protests, nobody believed her.
A new podcast, called The Retrievals, features interviews with twelve women who underwent the same procedure at the Yale Fertility Center and all experienced intense pain throughout. At the time, they were informed by the staff that they had already received the maximum amount of pain relief. However, it was later discovered that a nurse at the clinic had been stealing fentanyl and replacing it with saline solution. It is estimated that approximately 200 patients were denied adequate pain relief over a five-month period during their egg retrievals.
Produced by Serial Productions and written and hosted by Susan Burton from This American Life, this five-part series is not a mystery to uncover the culprit. The second episode reveals the identity of the nurse responsible, Donna Monticone, who pleaded guilty to the theft of fentanyl. Instead, the podcast delves into the complex factors that allowed such an event to occur. It sheds light on the dismissive treatment often experienced by women in medical settings and explores their varied responses. While some patients felt anger after the procedure, others questioned themselves and wondered if they were being difficult. “Am I being difficult?” one of them asks. “You just question your sense of self.”
True to its Serial podcast style, The Retrievals presents elegant and unobtrusive production, with unhurried and thoughtful storytelling. Burton maintains a quietly solemn tone, even though the revelations are deeply troubling. The strength of this podcast lies in its relatability, as there is likely not a single woman listening who cannot identify with elements of this story. Many women have experienced medical professionals downplaying their pain, rushing through symptom explanations, or making them feel weak, hysterical, or unreliable witnesses to their own experiences.
This podcast may not be easy to listen to, but by amplifying the voices of female patients, it is worth the discomfort, especially in this instance.
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