man holding wife still during epidural dies!

[smk1]

Just read the ap report about a woman in labor at a kaiser hospital. Apparently the anethesia professional (don't know which kind crna, mda or aa) asked the husband to help hold the wife still while the needle was inserted into the epidural space of her back and, he saw the needle going in and fainted, fell over and hit his head, suffered a fatal brain bleed and died 2 days later. Of course the wife is sueing, stating that he was asked to assist the procedure and so "reasonable" care should have been taken to prevent reasonable forseable complications/accidents. My thoughts as a simply a student, is that this is a firviolous lawsuit, and the lawyer that is encouraging her to go forth with this case should be ashamed. Also I am so saddened for this family to have such a joyous event marred and a life gone without warning. I guess to all of you L/D nurses and CRNA's etc... don't ask a family member to help hold the mom still. :uhoh21: What are your takes on this?

[keasc20]

:bugeyes:In most hospitals that I have worked in it is a normal thing for the support person to let the pt hold onto them to stay in position during the epidural. THere was probably some legal contact made to the pt and told her that she could get rich off this one. I hate the legal system. Things happen and not everything should be sued over! Ugghh!

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

Maybe family members should have to sign releases to be permitted to be present and "help" during the birth.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Please feel free to keep discussing the issue of support during labor....

....just keep in mind the original post was posted in 2005! :)

[LDRNMOMMY, BSN, RN]

At the hospital I worked at before we moved no one except the RN and the CRNA/Anesthesiologist was allowed in the room during epidural placement. This was a policy made by the hospital's anesthesia department. I think the policy was made due to this unfortunate accident.

I worked there for 2.5 yrs and only one time was a support person allowed to stay. The patients support person was there to help translate since we couldn't find an interpreter or cryacom phone. The patient and the CRNA were ok with it.

The hospital I delivered my daughter allows for one support person to remain in the room during epidural placement. My husband was allowed to hold me in position. This was per my request and my nurse remained in the room to assist the CRNA and document.

[RedCell]

I don't think it's a frivolous suit. A professional (RN) should have been holding, not dad. The nurse assigned to the mother should not have permitted dad to "help", and the anesthesia provider shouldn't have asked. Some people faint when seeing medical proceedures.

JMO

I do not think a "professional" is required to help separate a preggo's spinous process' during the placement of an epidural. A cave man could do it under simple instruction. To me this is a sad case. A professional's years of experience and education and school loans all laid to waste due to the talents of some random ambulance chaser.

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

I do not think a "professional" is required to help separate a preggo's spinous process' during the placement of an epidural. A cave man could do it under simple instruction. To me this is a sad case. A professional's years of experience and education and school loans all laid to waste due to the talents of some random ambulance chaser.

"Preggo?" Preggo?

How sick is that?

Hope you aren't in OB.

I find that ultimately offensive. Worse than "the appy in 203" or the "N word."

Ew.

[jhhrn68]

At our hospital, we always have the family leave the room during the epidural. A RN must be in the room during the procedure to assist. Anesthesia stays for 15-20 minutes after to closely monitor the pt.

[coppa1]

Let us all learn from this and always have family members sitting down out of view of the procedure or better yet, out of the room till the procedure is done. I too had a mother faint watching the needle go in her daughters back I noticed it happening thank goodness and was able to save her from hitting her head on the floor. Lesson learned!....FYI Family members also faint during delivery and putting in IV's etc.. so be aware and always have them sitting down. Very Sad post but excellent for all to learn from. Thanks

[Jill10191130]

I had a patient's sister stay in the room for an epidural one time. She was standing against the wall on the opposite side of the CRNA. I was holding the pt up and she was behind me against the wall. She couldn't see anything. When we finished as we were laying the patient down, the sister falls straight foward face first to the floor. At first I thought she had tripped and fell. I went over to her and turned her over. She has probaley a 2 inch gash across her chin. She began spitting and spat her teeth out that she had cracked into when hitting the floor. SHe had to go to the er and get sewed up. It really messed her teeth up. Anyway, ever since then, I make others staying in the room sit down.