recent lawsuit: father dies

[snowinter]

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Hi everyone,

I know this forum is mostly dead-- but I was wondering if any of you had read the lawsuit that is just happening?

Anesthesia was putting an epidural into a woman in labor -- and asked her husband to help hold her still. He passed out at the sight of the needle-- fell back -- hit is head and died 🙁 Now the family is suing the hospital--saying that their are responsible for his death. While I agree the anesthesiologist should not have used the family member to help them support the patient-- but I'm wondering -- does this mean if someone dies watching their wife give birth-- will that be a new liability? Furthermore, what if the husband wants to help comfort his wife while a needle is being stuck in her back? will we now discourage this all together? I noticed on my obgyn rotation-- the anesthesiologist woudl for the most part send the family out of the room when the epidural was being placed-- and I (trusty medical student) would help hold her still.

any thoughts?
snowinter 😍 😍 😍 😍

 

[Katee80]

Does anyone see 'hospital issued helmets' for dad in the future? 😀

Proximal cause was mentioned on other web sites. Who's really liable here. Where did the occurance originate from. The father for not being aware of his own limitations or the hospital for allowing him to stay.

I think all fathers should stay out of the room when an epidural is placed. Or at least be sitting down. Nurses are the ones who place the pt and make sure she doesn't move during this procedure here at 'our' hospital. Not sure what the policy everywhere else entails.

Katee80