need advice

[ganursechick, BSN, RN]

My mother in law has a history of several medical probs...htn, NIDDM, severe apnea, anurysem in the brain that was removed, and congestive heart failure. last Weds she was admitted and had a small tumor removed from her adrenal gland...she spent 48hours post op and came home. Yesterday she went to see her general prac doc, and her o2 sat was 71% and would not get any better no matter what they tried. She had fallen on Monday, and had severe pain in her foot, so they did xrays. They also did xrays of the chest to see if she had pneumonia, due to the doc stating, i hear something in the lungs'......but for the o2 sat , she refused to let them perform an ABG, cause 'it hurts'. The doc then made her sign a refusal letter and told her he was doing it cause there is something goin on with her and if she wont let them treat her, then if she dies, the family wont be able to sue them.

Now i know that it is necessary to perform needed tests and lab work, and i fully agree, but when the xrays came back several hours later, and showed that she has water in the lungs, shouldn't the doc told her to come back to the hosp, my father in law said that she is on her CPAC constantly, yet her face is ashy looking and her lips are deep purple.

She is very stubborn, and hates doctors.

i suggested to my father in law to make her sleep in the recliner to help keep her head elevated, and tried to talk to her, with no success, what else can i do for her/him, he is worried sick.

[SJOY7509]

It sounds like the doctor did want to treat her.

She sounds bad and should be in the hospital, but if she doesn't want to go or if she's going to refuse treatment when she gets there....there isn't much to do.

Sometimes you have to be blunt with stubborn people and tell them exactly what the problem is (i.e. you will not live long with this type of pneumonia untreated)

Last choice is to let her get so bad she goes unconscious then make decisions for her.

I know that sounds mean....but it doesn't sound like she's going to budge.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I'm so sorry that your MIL is so ill. Please take her to the emergency room. We can not provide medical advice.