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It’s Just a Virus, the E.R. Told Him. Days Later, He Was Dead.
Sam Terblanche was just 20 years old. Can a busy E.R. handle the hardest cases?
Thoughts?
- Thread starter Goro
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Seems bizarre that they are obsessing over sepsis when the autopsy confirmed that it wasn’t sepsis. This sounds like something autoimmune like TTP based on the autopsy and reported lab abnormalities. It’s incredibly hard to fault the docs for sending him home the second time without clear life threatening abnormalities on labs for what turns out to be a zebra especially in a young otherwise healthy patient with symptoms that sound like typical viral syndrome. I do think it odd that they didn’t get a CXR, however, on a patient that they were obtaining blood cultures on, but there is a decent probability that it would’ve been normal.
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Non pay walled link
Tough case. Seems strange too. Unsurprisingly the father latches onto sepsis (but seems unsupported by path. A renowned pathologist says it’s some weird zebra. Early ttp? Definitely doesn’t seem like forgoing abx was the critical error here. Maybe the nytimes should publish 1000 articles about benign self limited illnesses). Obviously he’s grieving, but I doubt he’ll get the closure he seeks from the malpractice case or his future career in advocacy. Unfortunately tragedies still happen in modern times and they’re not always preventable, even for the wealthy.
Tough case. Seems strange too. Unsurprisingly the father latches onto sepsis (but seems unsupported by path. A renowned pathologist says it’s some weird zebra. Early ttp? Definitely doesn’t seem like forgoing abx was the critical error here. Maybe the nytimes should publish 1000 articles about benign self limited illnesses). Obviously he’s grieving, but I doubt he’ll get the closure he seeks from the malpractice case or his future career in advocacy. Unfortunately tragedies still happen in modern times and they’re not always preventable, even for the wealthy.
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The general public doesn’t understand it is standard of care to miss the zebras. You can’t admit everybody until they’re feeling well. Also, it’s ridiculous there’s a lawsuit when even the autopsy is inconclusive. Unfortunately, bad things happen but it doesn’t mean it was somebody’s fault.
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No, you see you’re just supposed to never miss anything while avoiding any imaging or admissions while billing maximum critical care and keeping door to doc times down with a smile. Then go back to playing anesthesiologist while you’re being an Orthopedic surgeon cardiologist neurologist and plastics specialist every weeknight and all hours on weekends.
Oh and don’t forget Dr. abc wants to be called for all his patients and the patients of Dr. xyz, he was very upset when his patient got admitted to the regular hospitalist service at 3am after he failed to answer the phone for two hours
It’s not that hard
