...or do I point out that the doc may have screwed up too, and risk breaking the faith a patient has in their doctor?
Situation...on another (nonmedical) board I post on, one of the posters related a story that happened to him yesterday. Seems that he went to his GI for a motility test for his reflux. He described the procedure as the nurse passing a tube through his nose that is supposed to enter his esophagus. He stated that, as she started to pass the tube, he began coughing violently and when he tried to talk, he was completely unable to. He described that the nurse then tried to get him to drink some water, which he was unable to swallow and coughed right back up all over. He says she then got the doctor, who came in and told him she couldn't do the test until he stopped coughing, which he was obviously unable to do. He says he was still unable to talk "I had no voice at all", and after aabout 5 more minutes, they finally pulled the tube. He says, "The doctor had no answers at all. She said that it didn't sound like an allergic reaction or a stroke (Huh?), but they would try again", which he's clearly hesitant to do.
Now, I'm not a GI nurse, but I've passed enough NGTs that if a person can't swallow at all, and certainly suddenly can't talk, it seems pretty clear that it was an accidental intubation. Since other posters were suggesting that it was an allergic reaction, I decided to explain accidental intubation. I told them that, while I wasn't there and can't say for sure, that's certainly what it sounds like. I explained that it's not a rare event, but should be recognized immediately. I'm concerned that the nurse didn't pull the tube right away, and that the doc didn't seem to want to either, but I didn't say so. This guy is a young, healthy Type A with poss GERD as his only medical issue.
Once I explained what I thought happened (and reiterating that it was just my theory from the patient's description), the poster agreed that it made sense. I encouraged him to ask the doctor about placement confirmation and Cetacaine spray, etc...but to continue with treatment. I don't want him to be frightened of further treatment, nor did I ever question anyone's skill (at least out loud!)
However, now several posters have stated that they think the NURSE is a "freaking idiot" and how they wouldn't let her near them again. My question to you guys is...should I point out that the doc also didn't recognize the situation? I mean, I'm not sure it's my place to make him question his doc's ability (even though I personally do!), but I'm getting a little defensive that the nurse is being blamed. Should I just butt out? This is a nice guy who I've known online for a while, and has helped me with various computer issues in the past. I really want to tell him to find a different GI doc, but again...I don't think it's my place. Should I just let his nurse take the heat, and hope that maybe he'll continue treatment, and maybe get lucky with an easy placement next time? What would you tell him?
