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http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/st...LS&idq=/ff/story/0001/20050126/1612323498.htm

 

[Docta "O"]

Talk about second chances.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

That's definitely one of the biggest medical errors I've ever heard of. I'd like to see the final report on this incident. Didn't they think to perform brain death tests? What a mess...

 

[Singing Devil]

ugh, that is really sad.

actually what is really sad is the following:

The medical examiner from the article reset my broken hand when I was fourteen. I know the county attorney mentioned in the article.

And yes, I lived in that godforsaken county(Franklin) and in the county seat, Louisburg for six years of my life. Those were, by the way, the worst six years of my life.

I have lived all over North Carolina, and in some of the smallest places you can think of, and I am sure that that town is the worst place in the world to live, not because of the geography, which is beautiful, or the nearby counties or small cities, which are fine, nor the food, nor anything else you can think of. It's because of the zenophobic, small-minded people. The kind that would declare a guy dead when he was alive.

Not that I'm bitter--no not at all. Those were my pre-teen and early teenage years, however, so there might be more reasons to my feelings than meet the eye.

A tidbit: I found out that the medical examiner was inspecting him at the morgue--not at the hospital morgue, mind you--but downtown at the jail. interesting.

 

[Turkeyman]

"Several members of the Franklin County emergency medical service have been suspended pending an investigation, said Darnell Batton, the county attorney. "

Since, Singing Devil said, its such a small town full of close-minded people, could it be possibly they knew the guy and rather disliked him so they discharged him from the medical center to the morgue right away?

 

[synapse lapse]

I thought only Doctors could pronounce, not EMT's? I am probably wrong. Anyhow, that guy was very lucky to remain alive that long with no medical attention!

 

[MadameLULU]

I thought only Doctors could pronounce, not EMT's? I am probably wrong. Anyhow, that guy was very lucky to remain alive that long with no medical attention!

I'm assuming that the EMTs thought he was dead on scene and as a result did not transport him. EMTS are not allowed to transport dead patients unless they die en route.

 

[SitraAchra]

so is the guy still alive???

 

[synapse lapse]

I'm assuming that the EMTs thought he was dead on scene and as a result did not transport him. EMTS are not allowed to transport dead patients unless they die en route.

So they can't pronounce? Anyhow, thanks for the clarification...it said that the ME was called to the scene though, seems like it is his responsibility.

 

[skihawk2]

EMTs cannot pronounce...a doc needs to do that. But EMTs do have a triple zero protocol--criteria they use to decide whether the patient should be treated or is obviously dead. If EMTs find him to be dead and the ME is on scene, then the ME pronounces.

 

[akpete]

so does that mean the ME screwed up and should have evaluated on scene?

 

[skihawk2]

so does that mean the ME screwed up and should have evaluated on scene?

Since the ME was on scene, I would say yes, but it is also the EMTs fault. Most times the ME would not show up on scene. The EMTs would just radio in to their medical direction hospital and the ER physician would pronounce over the radio. I think it is really the EMTs who screwed up, but the ME probably should have caught it since he/she was on scene.

 

[MoosePilot]

The ME who was at the scene and declined to examine him was the same one who later discovered he was still alive in the morgue. I bet he gets sued.