Today my uncle died, he was 54. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer two months ago. Today he was having chemotherapy, he had 15 minutes left to finish the infusion when he started to feel nauseous. He coughed up some blood and within minutes he was vomiting blood and went into cardiac arrest. He was a full code, but he did not survive. This was very sudden even though he was most likely terminal - the cancer had spread to many other areas and he was not responding well to the chemo, but no one ever suspected he would have died, today. My aunt was not with my uncle when he died; my uncle's sisters took him to chemo today to give my aunt a break. By the time she was called and arrived at the hospital it had been almost a full hour that he had been gone. When she was brought in to see him she almost fell over - he was left uncovered with all of his clothes cut off, defib pads still on his chest, IVs, ET tube, and covered in the blood that he had vomited...an absolute mess. My cousins all proceeded to walk in, as did his elderly parents, etc. They were all horrified to see him in this condition. It was explained to them that since they were not going to consent to an autopsy, that he needed to remain in this condition until the medical examiner signed off on the autopsy form. I understand that procedures need to be followed...but this was not a crime scene...he had terminal CA. I don't understand why his body could not have been covered with a sheet or his face washed - this is now my aunt's, my cousin's, and his parent's last memory of him. My family sat in the Er waiting room for five hours waiting for the medical examiner who still had not come when I was leaving. My aunt can't proceed with funeral arrangements...she can't go home. It's just a horrible situation...am I wrong to be upset with how things have gone? Is this just routine procedure? If anyone has any idea or thoughts they would be appreciated.
Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.
lisky 90 --
i am also sorry about your loss that was so sudden. i have been many times responsible for a newly deceased. as so many others have said the et and all other equiptment that is inserted during a code stays in the body.
i have no idea as also expressed by others why this gentleman was not given the respect of a reasonable presentation to the family.
i have always made it a piont (if possible) to talk to the family prior to seeing the deceased explaining the et tube and what ever else is obvious.
i also leave the crash cart / vent or any other equiptment in the room (if possible) so that the family can realize that everything was done.
Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.
Tridil2000 -- A question .....
I am asking you about the cooling blanket after three hours. I never realized or heard of this. The head is always lowered immediately for viewing so that I was aware of.
Since the body temp drops and rigor mortis sets why the cooling blaket? I have also seen when death occurs at home the coroner can take many hours to arrive and there is no cooling blanket procedure done.
Where I am from though it has always been a large hosp. and we had a refrig to put the body in so perhaps in your facility doent have one ?
As well in the facilities I have been in the policies have been the body is to be out of the ER/ICCU in 60 minutes or so.
If the family is traveling and it is going to take longer they are asked to wait then the body is pulled out and the viewing takes place in a quiet room adjacent to morgue referig room.
Please explain this to me and is this a newer protocol in hospitals for care of the deceased?
i usually don't let the family sees the patient unless i cleaned him/her up..and hopefully then the family can see him in a more"presentable way".i tell them that tubes/iv lines are still intact for coroner's case.if and ever a nurse overlook this..chaplain is always around to double check.
SilentfadesRPA
240 Posts
lisky 90 --
i am also sorry about your loss that was so sudden. i have been many times responsible for a newly deceased. as so many others have said the et and all other equiptment that is inserted during a code stays in the body.
i have no idea as also expressed by others why this gentleman was not given the respect of a reasonable presentation to the family.
i have always made it a piont (if possible) to talk to the family prior to seeing the deceased explaining the et tube and what ever else is obvious.
i also leave the crash cart / vent or any other equiptment in the room (if possible) so that the family can realize that everything was done.
again my thoughts and condolences.
marc