Is there another hospital you can take her to? In my area, there are two hospitals, and one is notoriously better for children.
I'm sure they'll be thrilled to hear that. I think you might mean something like esteemed or well regarded. Pro tip: Do not go to any hospital with a notorious reputation, especially if there is another option. (Hee!)
To OP: Any updates? I hope you are well in your way to a proper diagnosis. I agree that our system is screwed up. In that mountain of fine print you signed in the ER was probably a bulletproof clause that protects them from all manner of things. Probably better to focus on recovery, glean whatever lessons can be learned from the experience and move on with your life.
Oh man. Yes, that is what I meant.
What you said is what you meant. Notorious is often meant to mean a negative, but doesn't have to be used that way.
You qualified it with a positive.
Pretty sure there is NO hospital that would appreciate being labeled "notorious". In other contexts, perhaps. See: Notorious BIG.
On to other weird US healthcare processes.
I have a heart condition that is mostly self-managed without drugs. In 2008, I returned home from a Hawaiian vacation and then experienced heart palpitations for nearly a week. Having moved far away from my cardiologist, I made an appointment and walked to my GPS, around the corner from my house. She checked my heart, agreed there was a problem and then directed me to the Emergency Room. What? Can't you just recommend a Cardiologist in the area? Nope, it doesn't work that way. Had to go to ER, have tests run, THEN go to a Cardiologist. Harumph! I was so pissed. I walked to the ER, just one block away. When I arrived and stated my reason, I was jumped to the front of the line. Wha?? Seems cardiovascular stuff gets special priority. Anyway, they ran a bunch of tests, then recommended I see a Cardiologist. Well, duh. At least they recommended a good one. Happily, I haven't needed to see her in five or six years or so. Another benefit of FIRE is so much less stress.
"notoriously better for children"
better is really the key word there.
Merium Webster:
Notorius
:generally known and talked of
iron is a notorious conductor of heat —Lewis Mumford
; especially :widely and unfavorably known a notorious gangster
an area notorious for soot, smog, and dust—Pliotron
Dictionary.com
adjective
1. widely and unfavorably known:
a notorious gambler.
Synonyms: infamous, egregious, outrageous, arrant, flagrant, disreputable.
2. publicly or generally known, as for a particular trait:
a newspaper that is notorious for its sensationalism.
Synonyms: notable, renowned, celebrated, prominent, conspicuous, famous, widely known.
So first definition at Merriam-Webster and second definition at dictionary.com is exactly how that poster used it: something that is well known. If used alone, most people would go to the negative connotation; but when qualified (with the word "better"), there is nothing in that statement that is bad. The post said that it is generally known as being better for children. Exactly as the dictionary says the word can be used.
I've been pretty upset with our ER lately, and at an excellent hospital. I got sent there by a pediatrician when I was having chest pain at a 1-week checkup for my daughter. I told her it was stress and no big deal and didn't have time to go to the ER. Went to the ER, waited half an hour for an EKG and then 4 hours, and finally told them I was leaving. Clearly if something was wrong I'd have been called back by then. I was exhausted, dehydrated and hungry. Me and my 1-week old in an ER (though they gave me a "family waiting room" to keep her away from germs) wasn't helping things.
Then at 6 months a nurse line sent us to the ER for dehydration. We didn't even get called to triage for over an hour, when I again just left (she had a wet diaper at that point, and I called the nurse line and they said that was probably a good sign and to keep pushing fluids). I can understand not seeing a doctor, as the back of house was likely quite busy- but not a single person was in the waiting room (never seen that)- and my INFANT didn't even get triaged.