Brainless People!

[mickeypat]

Need some advice on something.... I have a rezzie who smokes, is on oxygen continously, and has been told by MD that he is not medically stable to drive his vehicle, but still does. We have tried to explain to him that he is not to be doing this, he has been told repeatedly by the doc to not do this, also. We have even talked to law enforcement about it also, they told us that we need to have the MD sign a statement that he is not able to drive. Oh, by the way, he has 2 big O2 tanks in the back of his pick up. He did agree at one point in time to give us his keys, but he got them back somehow and won't give them back. This person likes to sign himself out, go get his money from the county and then go and gamble it away, and buy cigarettes. We have talked to our social service people, but not much is being done with it.

Also, he is going outside to smoke with his O2 on! Talk about a huge lawsuit waiting to happen! Hope I'm not there when he blows up the place.

My issue is this.... I won't put my name on his sign out sheet, because I feel that I'm giving him permission to go, but then I'm told I can't refuse to let him go, even tho I know he is not medically stable enough to be doing this.

Just need some advice and to vent. My license is not worth losing because of his stupidity!

[mickeypat]

Hello....

Got an update on my original post.....

Last nite this rezzie fell in their room. When staff found him, he had his O2 off, had a pack of smokes and a lighter on the floor beside him and a partially burnt cigarette on the floor also, and the O2 tank was still on. Well, needless to say, the nurse on duty took the smokes and lighter and put them in the med room where I wanted them to begin with. Upon further discussion with the DON, he now has to turn in his O2 tank to get a cig and the lighter. We take the lighter back and he gets the tank back. BTW, his spO2 was 50% when he was found!

I sent a fax to MD requesting that we get his license pulled, and MD basically said that there is no reason to pull the driver's license and that we should do what we are doing.... needless to say, still not happy with MD, and that we will be chatting with the Medical Director for our facility, since we are getting absolutely NO help from the current one! DON is also quite frustrated with this whole situation too!

I'll try and let ya know how things might work out....

[dauschundlover]

Got your reply. Sounds like this guy is a toughie. With a 02 sat of 50% he must have copd. I would question whether he is capable of making sound decisions on his own. Is there any family involved?