man holding wife still during epidural dies!

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Just read the ap report about a woman in labor at a kaiser hospital. Apparently the anethesia professional (don't know which kind crna, mda or aa) asked the husband to help hold the wife still while the needle was inserted into the epidural space of her back and, he saw the needle going in and fainted, fell over and hit his head, suffered a fatal brain bleed and died 2 days later. Of course the wife is sueing, stating that he was asked to assist the procedure and so "reasonable" care should have been taken to prevent reasonable forseable complications/accidents. My thoughts as a simply a student, is that this is a firviolous lawsuit, and the lawyer that is encouraging her to go forth with this case should be ashamed. Also I am so saddened for this family to have such a joyous event marred and a life gone without warning. I guess to all of you L/D nurses and CRNA's etc... don't ask a family member to help hold the mom still. :uhoh21: What are your takes on this?

Specializes in med surg, SICU.

Bottom line is that the father was asked to assist in the procedure. If he hadn't been "assisting" there would be no liability if he'd just fainted. I hope the new mother comes out of this filthy stinking rich. She deserves it.

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I hope one day people will realize tragedy doesn't mean payday.

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
I hope one day people will realize tragedy doesn't mean payday.

We can only hope this wise words prove prophetic.

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Bottom line is that the father was asked to assist in the procedure. If he hadn't been "assisting" there would be no liability if he'd just fainted. I hope the new mother comes out of this filthy stinking rich. She deserves it.

I sincerely hope you are NOT serious in your above response.

Bottom line is that this father was NOT assisting at all. I see you're a new grad with probably little or no experience as yet. Let's see what you think in 10-15 years when you have a bit of experience under your belt and you have "assisted" in a few procedures. Then, maybe, you'll truly understand what assisting means.

The book learning you received in your BSN program is not the be all and the end all. Actual hands on experience will help you, not to mention hopefully, you will develop some critical thinking skills.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I hope one day people will realize tragedy doesn't mean payday.

Amen and amen.

I don't do OB as most of you are well aware. But nursing is all about including the family in care. It's practically drilled into us in school...........include the family, allow them in the room during delivery, during CPR and during procedures. How many family members help feed patients, help to clean them up, wipe sputum off their face, help them to the bathroom. Many of them do it voluntarily, but now I'm worried about the liability if I'm cleaning someone or doign a dressing and the family member wants to be there, and I ask them to hold the patient over.

I would hate a tradedy like this set us back.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I sincerely hope you are NOT serious in your above response.

Bottom line is that this father was NOT assisting at all. I see you're a new grad with probably little or no experience as yet. Let's see what you think in 10-15 years when you have a bit of experience under your belt and you have "assisted" in a few procedures. Then, maybe, you'll truly understand what assisting means.

The book learning you received in your BSN program is not the be all and the end all. Actual hands on experience will help you, not to mention hopefully, you will develop some critical thinking skills.

Just because someone is a new grad doesn't mean someone doesn't have critical thinking skills. I have seen nurses with 10-15 years of experience with no critical thinking skills whatsoever.

I am not a new grad, I DO have 10 years of experience under my belt, and I HAVE assisted in a few procedures. In the facilities I have worked in (3 in case you are wondering) holding a patient steady would be considered ASSISTING, not doing, in a procedure and would be charted as such.

I agree with all the posters who have said this case will hinge on the interpretation of what was asked of the father.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

.... Many of them do it voluntarily, but now I'm worried about the liability if I'm cleaning someone or doign a dressing and the family member wants to be there, and I ask them to hold the patient over.

I would hate a tradedy like this set us back.

The difference here would be that holding still for a dressing change will not risk severely injuring them should they move. Letting family be involved in a patient's care is what we are striving for, but sometimes there are things that the family should be excluded from for the safety of all involved.

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I think it't frivilous - what if he passed out during the birth and the same happened? I do NOT think a family member should be asked to participate in medical care like that, though. As many said - what if he would have slipped/she became paralyzed, etc? That would be my bigger question about all of this.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
The difference here would be that holding still for a dressing change will not risk severely injuring them should they move. Letting family be involved in a patient's care is what we are striving for, but sometimes there are things that the family should be excluded from for the safety of all involved.

A point worth considering. I appreciate the learning opportunity. I'm sure you're right.

Whether the mom has the right to retire rich or not is debatable in my mind.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
The difference here would be that holding still for a dressing change will not risk severely injuring them should they move.

Depending on how painful the wound is.

what if the family member that held the leg passed out from pus?

Just wondering.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Whether the mom has the right to retire rich or not is debatable in my mind.

I really don't think she should. No amount of money brings him back, and i can't help but feel that this is more of an emotional lawsuit than anything.

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
Depending on how painful the wound is.

what if the family member that held the leg passed out from puss?

Just wondering.

puss? Are we back in OB? :rotfl: (sorry, couldn't resist)

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