man holding wife still during epidural dies!

lpnstudentin2010 · Jul 08, 2005, 03:39 PM

what a dumb lawsuit

*Marie_LPN, RN* · Jul 08, 2005, 04:05 PM

Maybe we'll just have dad sign a waiver, too.

That's what it's going to boil down to, as lawsuit-happy as people are nowadays.

k_cole21 · Jul 08, 2005, 04:11 PM

One of our anesthesia docs posted this article in every labor room today. At this hospital they make everyone leave the room for the epid start. At my home hospital we let dads stand in front of mom all the time. However, I always have a chair near by and explain that if they feel the least bit "funny" they should sit down. My favorite policy was at the last hospital I traveled to. They allowed one person in the room but they had to be seated during the procedure. I feel sorry for the family losing their loved one....

SMK1 · Jul 09, 2005, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by tvccrn

I just think that hugging or comforting a patient is much different that holding a patient steady. One involves a personal interaction and the other is merely mechanical.

I would chart the comforting of a patient as having been provided to address the patient's psychological needs as this is one of the areas our hospital looks at. However, the holding steady that is needed for an epidural....that is not comforting as it sometimes involves stength to keep the patient from accidentally harming themselves.

when i was in labor the nurse anesthetist told me to sit on the edge of the bed and lean forward and when she was happy that i was in position she told me to hold very still and my hubby held my hands in front of me. That was it. I am not a nurse yet, but my personal feelings as I stated in my original post, is that this family is seeking to blame someone for what is in essence a freak accident. Lots of things are done in L/D room such as helping to hold a leg using a birthing ball and bar, dad doing the breathing with mom cutting the umbilical cord, in all of these instances the dad could faint, would the hospital then be liable because the person has a weak stomach? I just think this is suspect at best...

SMK1 · Jul 09, 2005, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by stevielynn

Both very good points, especially the last one.

So, if the mom who is holding the child for an immunization faints when she sees the needle . . . . is the clinic liable?

steph

another good point to ponder...

SMK1 · Jul 09, 2005, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by fergus51

As someone pointed out, yes there are other situations where parents may hold their children still for procedures like immunizations or IV placement. It happens.

What I don't get is why it even matters if he was holding his wife or not. If he was standing 5 feet away and saw the needle and passed out, the result would be the same. It wasn't holding her that caused his fall.

this was my point as well, i could see a case made for an injuy to the mom by improper poisitioning or something, but this is just reaching as far as i'm concerned.

*Spidey's mom* · Jul 09, 2005, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by fergus51

As someone pointed out, yes there are other situations where parents may hold their children still for procedures like immunizations or IV placement. It happens.

What I don't get is why it even matters if he was holding his wife or not. If he was standing 5 feet away and saw the needle and passed out, the result would be the same. It wasn't holding her that caused his fall.

Again, another great point!

I guess because we all have different experiences, we are reacting from that. We always have a husband or S.O. or mom or somebody in the room when we do an epidural. Always. I cannot remember a time when someone was not in the room. The CRNA does not kick anyone out.

It just seems so very odd to me that the laboring mom would have no support person, no doula, no spouse available when getting an epidural.

steph

oneRNprn · Jul 09, 2005, 02:33 AM

IMO this case will be won or lost on the patient's claim that the husband "assisted in a medical procedure." If helping calm a laboring patient by "hugging" her during epidural placement is considered assisting in a medical procedure, then anyone who helps coach, count, or hold a leg is assisting in a medical procedure. Ultimately, this will lead to one more consent that will need to be signed. The whole story is just so unfortunate.

RNnL&D · Jul 09, 2005, 02:47 AM

I agree this was an unfortunate accident, and am sorry for the family's loss. I just don't understand why this Dad just didn't speak up and say, I feel faint.

I had a Dad just the other day that I had to sit down because he felt faint. We have Dads support Mom by standing in front and holding hands all the time. They are not helping with positioning. The CRNA positions the patient. The Dad is just there for emotional support.

I agree that it will come down to the wording of the lawsuit. Did Dad just offer support, or was he actually "assisting" in a medical procedure?

tracey1963 · Jul 09, 2005, 02:53 AM

Originally Posted by prmenrs

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 had to have a epidural and am still having problems three years later, it was up to the nurses/consultant to make sure the husband stood back.