Swine flu victim asked to leave ER dies next day

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas —
The mother of a man who died of a swine flu-related illness said her son was asked to leave a Texas hospital a day before his death because he was lying on the floor, too ill sit in a chair.

Irving Neil Range, 58, of Corpus Christi died in the emergency room of Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial on Friday of a swine-flu related illness, confirmed Annette Rodriguez, interim director of Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District.

Opal Range told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times that her son went to the emergency room Oct. 1, but laid on the floor because he felt too sick to sit a chair while waiting to see a doctor.

She said a security guard asked him to leave so he went home. Her son returned to the emergency room the next day and died....

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6658531.html

I'm a little confused. According to the article (if that is even an accurate account) the man lay on the ER floor because he was too ill to sit up in a chair. So security told him to leave, and he wasn't too sick to get up and go home? I don't think we're getting the whole story here.

there must be more to the story. That would never occur in any ER I know of - first, security would have to bring it to the attention of a medical person - usually triage nurse or team leader, or charge RN. They would assess the person, particularly if a person was lying on the ground. I have never seen security make a decision regarding patient care by having a person leave, especially since they checked in to be seen. Nope, wouldn't happen. Unless this security person acted of their own accord. In which case, good luck security guy/gal.

And on a side note, it's so irritating to read in the media about healthcare related (and many other types of stories) stories that have more to the story. It's like stories are written with a little information, or completely inaccurate, just to get a juicy story out there - it's so irresponsible.

I thought of that also but figured he found the oomph to leave rather than get arrested.

Turns out Mr. Range was homeless. If you've worked for homeless shelters, you typically can't be drinking and stay there. They stated he had the ability to make others smile, ....... He was brought by ambulance.

They did all the tests and he was waiting and so sick he laid down. The director of the shelter blogged on his case. It seems like the article explains just the facts, no more, no less. He was ill, laid down too much, asked to leave.

Where he came from and any previous crimes and mention thereof are just plain discrimination.

Rather than scrutinizing, read the article. It is what it is. Regardless of why, he laid down and he was asked to leave before being assessed.

Accusing the guy of being a demerol junkie is just plain reckless and sad to his memory. This is the biggest issue with forums; assumptions. A demerol seeker? Where does it say that? Nowhere in the article did it accuse him of drug seeking.

For me, I'd walk a couple hundred yards, feel OK and pay like hell later. Once up you just don't know how bad your body is going to punish you once you get back down and THAT's when you feel like you're going to die; after moving. My guess is his final walk from his car was enough. He likely collapsed at home after walking from his car leaving, as well.

Rather than scrutinizing, read the article. It is what it is. Regardless of why, he laid down and he was asked to leave before being assessed.

Accusing the guy of being a demerol junkie is just plain reckless and sad to his memory. This is the biggest issue with forums; assumptions. A demerol seeker? Where does it say that? Nowhere in the article did it accuse him of drug seeking.