neighbors found her said she still had a pulse. ems arrived said;heartbeat was weak&irreagular & couldn't support life, so didn't try and revive her. I have a problem with this. she was still alive,not by much ,but still had heartbeat
2007-07-31 00:20:58 · 13 answers · asked by Mike B 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
Deepest condolences, Mike. I'm sure its some kinda tough time for you.
You gotta realize sometimes the heart muscle is damaged beyond hope. Once faithful to rythym, rate and pressure, it loses its ability to self-regulate thru damage or disease. Ems may've re-established heartbeats, but there was no life supporting permanance left for her there. I know you grieve. Please find comfort in the happiest of memories. That's where love transcends all.
2007-07-31 00:55:57 · answer #1 · answered by omnisource 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG! Very sorry for your loss. Now RUN to the nearest malpractice lawyer, and get these clowns off the street!
I am a paramedic, with 30 years experience. I would like to say this could never happen, but, unfortunately, I know it does.
While it is impossible to say what REALLY happened, without having been there, it sounds like this case should be investigated immediately, and legal (if not criminal) charges filed against the EMS personnel, their agency, their medical director, etc.
Important questions that will have a bearing on the case:
Did she have a fatal illness, such as terminal cancer? Was she on hospice care? Did she have a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order?
Even so, if she had a pulse or electrical activity, the EMS personnel should have transported her to the hospital.
On the other hand. I have been called to a scene where someone said the person had "just gone unconscious, while I was talking to them". (My partner, charming fellow, asked "Yes, but did she talk back to you?") The patient was in rigor mortis, (stiff) had postmortem levidity, (blood pooled in the lowest parts of the body as they were found), and had obviously died several hours earlier. No resuscitation could have been performed under these circumstances
2007-07-31 13:04:10 · answer #2 · answered by geo g 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
first of all, my deepest sympathies to you
i lost my dad in March of this year and i was the only one in the room when he died. i called for help the moment he "went"
nurses were on the scene instantly
they put a mask on his face [o2]
but little else. I too felt angry ,confused .
I still have flashbacks and "what if" thoughts
but based on previous medical diagnosis on my dad, I know deep down that the medics were right.
I'm sure they know what they are doing they see this daily we only see it when it affects us personally - we are too emotionally involved to make logical decisions
the chances are the heart was fibrillating ie fluttering rather than pumping blood/oxygen round her system. depending on the time she was in this condition, if they had managed to restore a regular heartbeat, the brain may have been seriously damaged - would she have wanted to live like that?
I would love to be able to tell you that things improve with time, i personally don't think they do, you just get used to handling those feelings
don't blame people, it was inevitable - i tell myself this daily
the very best for the future my friend and once again my deepest sympathies
Andy
2007-07-31 07:36:36 · answer #3 · answered by andy t 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ummmmm, I don't know anyone in EMS who would *EVER* say anything like that. Unless she had DNR orders, they would have had to perform CPR and transport. If she had a heartbeat/palpable pulse, or there was electrical activity visible on an EKG, they had to "work the code" and transport.
My condolences on the loss.
2007-07-31 07:30:30 · answer #4 · answered by ceprn 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am so sorry for your loss. If you think there was some form of malpractice here, call a lawyer. You should speak with the rescue team that responded to your wife's call and ask why they did not recussitate her. I am pretty sure that they have to make an effort. I know someone that works as an EMT and I will see them tonight at work. I will ask about that and e-mail you later.
2007-07-31 07:35:33 · answer #5 · answered by Maria 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes she was alive but not much there. you can still be ok. she is resting now and shes done she does not hurt and shes just in her soul resting and waiting for you to come to visit when you pass on just take it as a celebration of her life and you will someday be ok with it sometimes it takes long while to get over ones death but they are in happier place then we are.
2007-08-02 17:38:17 · answer #6 · answered by Tsunami 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
im very sorry for your loss. it seems very strange that the emts wouldnt use life support. but before you plan to sue you need to find more info out:
* were the EMTs legally allowed to use life support
* what there rank was (EMT-b, EMT-I, EMT-A or paramedic)
* did she have a DNR that your neighbors possibly knew about.
EMT-B's and EMT-I's are not allowed to use life support such as incubation. they are only allowed to preform CPR.
2007-07-31 10:09:35 · answer #7 · answered by gousa1991 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would write to the ems and ask for written justification. also get independent written advice on when not to resuscitate. You will then know if you have a case and evidence to show in court.
I am sorry for your loss.
2007-07-31 07:31:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Im very sorry about your wife......I hope things get better for you and your family. I think you should sue them because it was someone who meant a lot to you and it wasn't right that they didn't even give her a chance at life.
2007-07-31 10:04:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm so sorry for your loss but this seems strange that they didn't do everything to get her back. I think you have a law suit there.
2007-07-31 07:27:17 · answer #10 · answered by greylady 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋