So frustrated!!!!!!!!

[stoic]

---

Members don't see this ad.

There thread is part bitch session and part question.

Tonight at a house party I attended, a young male (college age) fell from the first floor balcony and landed on a concrete walkway. I was nearby when this happened, as was an off duty EMT. We both rushed over to this guy. He was out cold for ~30 seconds (at least we assume so, during this time the guy was completely unresponsive.) After the brief LOC this guy woke up but was disoriented (didn't know date/president/how much he'd had to drink). The EMT and I felt that this was an easy judgement; this guy needed an medic unit. However, the victims friends did not. They encouraged the victim to get up and "walk it off." Though he could not stand on his own, the victims friends got him and and helped him walk away from the party. This was in spite of extremely aggressive protesting from the EMT and myself.

I'm mad at the guy's friends for taking him away and laughing it off. I'm mad at myself for not being able to convince this dude to let a rig come out, put him in a collar and take him in. I don't start med school till next fall, but I've seen enough people worked up in the ER to know this guy needs a head/neck CT.

I don't feel that there is anything else we could have done, but still... I fear that there is going to be an article in the paper on monday about some student that died/had a bad outcome due to a closed head injury sustained from falling off of balcony. What do you guys think, did we handle this as well as we could or is there something else we could have/should have done?

 

[FoughtFyr]

There thread is part bitch session and part question.

Tonight at a house party I attended, a young male (college age) fell from the first floor balcony and landed on a concrete walkway. I was nearby when this happened, as was an off duty EMT. We both rushed over to this guy. He was out cold for ~30 seconds (at least we assume so, during this time the guy was completely unresponsive.) After the brief LOC this guy woke up but was disoriented (didn't know date/president/how much he'd had to drink). The EMT and I felt that this was an easy judgement; this guy needed an medic unit. However, the victims friends did not. They encouraged the victim to get up and "walk it off." Though he could not stand on his own, the victims friends got him and and helped him walk away from the party. This was in spite of extremely aggressive protesting from the EMT and myself.

I'm mad at the guy's friends for taking him away and laughing it off. I'm mad at myself for not being able to convince this dude to let a rig come out, put him in a collar and take him in. I don't start med school till next fall, but I've seen enough people worked up in the ER to know this guy needs a head/neck CT.

I don't feel that there is anything else we could have done, but still... I fear that there is going to be an article in the paper on monday about some student that died/had a bad outcome due to a closed head injury sustained from falling off of balcony. What do you guys think, did we handle this as well as we could or is there something else we could have/should have done?

Just FYI, if the same situation occurs again, just call 911. You don't need the patient's permission and the medics (and the cops who usually accompany them) have a unique way of getting folks where they need to go...

- H

 

[banner]

There thread is part bitch session and part question.

Tonight at a house party I attended, a young male (college age) fell from the first floor balcony and landed on a concrete walkway. I was nearby when this happened, as was an off duty EMT. We both rushed over to this guy. He was out cold for ~30 seconds (at least we assume so, during this time the guy was completely unresponsive.) After the brief LOC this guy woke up but was disoriented (didn't know date/president/how much he'd had to drink). The EMT and I felt that this was an easy judgement; this guy needed an medic unit. However, the victims friends did not. They encouraged the victim to get up and "walk it off." Though he could not stand on his own, the victims friends got him and and helped him walk away from the party. This was in spite of extremely aggressive protesting from the EMT and myself.

I'm mad at the guy's friends for taking him away and laughing it off. I'm mad at myself for not being able to convince this dude to let a rig come out, put him in a collar and take him in. I don't start med school till next fall, but I've seen enough people worked up in the ER to know this guy needs a head/neck CT.

I don't feel that there is anything else we could have done, but still... I fear that there is going to be an article in the paper on monday about some student that died/had a bad outcome due to a closed head injury sustained from falling off of balcony. What do you guys think, did we handle this as well as we could or is there something else we could have/should have done?

You should be commended for trying to help this person. Don't beat yourself up for another person's stupidity. You really did all that you could. If somebody refuses care and then dies, it is their problem and is certainly not your fault. Maybe this sounds harsh, but if you try to be everybody's parent and force care on them (not only is it illegal and immoral) , you will burn out and be unhappy.

Please don't lose any more sleep over those dopes and save your energy for those who are worth your time and skill.

Good luck with your career.

 

[DrQuinn]

Exactly. I used to NOT want patients to leave AMA when I was pre med or even an early medical student. I used to want to educate my patients! But now as a PGY-2, if a patient wants to leave AMA, if I've eyeballed their vitals signs, chief complaint, and what they look like, and it looks cool to me, please, sign out and get out of my ED.

You're obviously a good hearted person and should be commended. But you can't do everything for everyone. I can feel your frustration but you can only do so much. When you get the training, you'll learn how to persuade people into doing things you want them to do.

Q

 

[docB]

This gives me an idea for a new thread.