man holding wife still during epidural dies!

prmenrs, RN · Jul 8, 2005

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

smk1, LPN · Jul 8, 2005

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 guess i see your point, however i only see negligence if an adverse outcome had happened to the actual patient. (i.e. dad wasn't holding firm and patient moved and was paralyzed or went into cardiac arrest etc..) A lot of dads faint watching procedures that are related to the childbirth process. What about a dad who faints cutting the umbilical cord? Should the family be able to sue then? My hubby almost fainted watching the crowning. (I probably would have too if i could have actually seen what was going on! :rotfl: ) In any case I think the dad in this case could have fainted whether he was touching the mom or not. I don't think the actual holding had anything to do with it, it was just the actual sight of the needle. Imho some things just fall under the category of unfortunate, but no one is really to blame. Of course this is just my opinion and I am not a nurse yet...

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Jul 8, 2005

Since you asked what our take was on this....

I agree with prmenrs.

Princess74 · Jul 8, 2005

I wonder just how common it is for a non-medical professional to hold the patient still during these procedures. I was recently with my neice during her labor and delevery. The CRNA had me support her during the procedure, and the RN was in the room looking at the moniters etc.. Of course needles and such have no affect on me whatsoever. The CRNA knew that Im a student but still he did ask me about 5 or 6 times if needles bothered me, he said he didn't want me to pass out. I don't know if he "let" me do it just because he knew how interested I was in the who thing or if it is a common practice to have family members do it on a regular basis.

It didn't bother me one bit to be involved, it was right up my alley.

And actually now that I think about it, I was also in the room when my sister in law was in labor and her husband supported her.

Two seperate hospitals. One Navy and one civilian.

I feel really bad about the man passing out and dieing, thats just awful!

smk1, LPN · Jul 8, 2005

Since you asked what our take was on this....
I agree with prmenrs.

always nice to see other viewpoints, that's what the forum is for. :)

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 8, 2005

If he was just standing there holding her hand and fainted with the same outcome would change the liability issue?

mkaszukgirl · Jul 8, 2005

I don't think that I would have had Dad hold Mom during that kind of procedure, but as to the liability? I think it was an awful, tragic accident. But, in our society of legal jargon, someone will be paying dearly-probably the hospital and CRNA. My heart goes out to the wife. How terrible to lose your husband at the joyous moments of labor and delivery!!! Melinda :crying2:

amber1142 · Jul 8, 2005

Just read the ap report about a woman in labor at a kaiser hospital.

I think it's a frivolous lawsuit. He was a grown man. He should have said no if he felt uncomfortable.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 8, 2005

I think it's a frivolous lawsuit. He was a grown man. He should have said no if he felt uncomfortable.

I agree.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 8, 2005

While i feel that it should have been staf to hold up the pt., i just feel that the lawsuit is the result of someone saying "make them pay". People need to take responsibilty for themselves, you can't always depend on others to hold your hand in life and tell you what you should and should not do.

Dayray, RN · Jul 8, 2005

I bet the family will win this one. The important point here is that he was directed to help by the care provider. Even though it could be seen as just allowing him to comfort the patient. To him and the patient he was "helping" with the procedure. I be the courts will see it that way too.

I've seen tons of dads (including NFL players) faint during an epidural placement.

I used to be pretty strict about makeing them sit down but lately I've gotten a bit lax. Ill sure be reverting to my original training and makeing them all sit down.

Once I had the pateints sister faint while the epidural was being placed. This was no big deal becuse I was ready for it and she was light so I cought her with one arm and was suppoting the patient with the other. Where it got bad was when the patient (seeing her sister faint) fainted as well. I then had an unconsious person in each arm (damn good thing they were light) When I told the anathisiologist to hit the call light he said "but im steril" At that point I really did'nt think we would be getting the epidural in for a while so I politly requested that he brake steril technique and hit the call light before comeing over the bed to take one of the limp women out of my arms.

Really if the family member hurts them selves there is'nt much defence. It's well known that people offten faint during epidurals. I'm not saying I agree with this point of veiw but I can definatly see why some would see it that way.