What would you do?

[Furrball2]

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So I am at the DMV waiting with my fiancee who is getting a new license. THere is a loud bang behind us and when I turn around there is a man down having a seizure. I walk over he is on his side, non-responsive, having probably a partial complex sz. One of the other people there asks for an ambulance to be callled. I timed his sz to see if this was going to turn into status. At just under 2 minutes he started to come out of it and was post-ictal. At this time I started asking him quesitons to see how oriented he was. A state police officer shows up and takes over; ignoring me when I tried to tell him what happened. At this point the guy was post-ictal and no longer seizing. I went back to my seat. When the paramedics arrived I went back told them how long the sz was and described the sz and his automatisms. At no time did I identify myself as a doctor. I've only been one for a week and a half 🙄 , and I had no equipment or meds, and at no time did the man seem in danger other than the sz.

So I am pretty confident that I did the right thing. I'm curious, what would other people have done?

 

[b&ierstiefel]

You did the right thing. You really weren't in the position to treat the patient (pharmacologically, that is, even if that would be appropriate or not at that time). All you could really do in this situation was to observe, collect information, and do whatever you could to prevent the patient from further self-harm during the seizure.

Screw the police officer. They're dicks anyway.

I'm sure the info you told the paramedics was taken seriously and was communicated to the physicians at the hospital to where he would be eventually transported.

Good work doctor. You get a cookie.

 

[14022]

I would have put a wooden spoon in his mouth. It is malpractice to do otherwise.

 

[Jambi]

Or a belt in the mouth!

Better yet, try and hold the Pt down.

 

[wooo]

always stick your finger in the mouth to prevent the patient from swallowing their tongue.

thats a no brainer....duh

 

[GoPistons]

look up a story about how two pediatricians gave CPR to a man during the Pistons-Spurs game tonight while they were enjoying the game... he had just had a heart attack... great story!

 

[NinerNiner999]

Not much to do during a sz. Just give'em space and make them comfortable so they can do their thing. Without meds, there isn't much to do for status either. You did well...