tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10381465.post116837879395828260..comments2009-07-15T02:12:13.397-07:00Wesley J. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00087063614354714652wjs@wesleyjsmith.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10381465.post-1168453142392951532007-01-10T10:19:00.000-08:002007-01-10T10:19:00.000-08:00Jerri: For our many visitors, would you please describe "slow code?" And has it ever been proved? Thanks.Wesley J. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00087063614354714652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10381465.post-1168445180487898322007-01-10T08:06:00.000-08:002007-01-10T08:06:00.000-08:00"Wesley, can you comment on the hospital's claim that they were unable to insert an NG tube?"<BR/><BR/>According to my nurse paralegal, this sounds like hogwash. If the patient was combative, sedation was the answer. Although there can be difficulties in inserting such a tube in some people, there are methods for dealing with that.<BR/><BR/>I think that this was simply a version of "slow-coding".Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18233086317541487517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10381465.post-1168396943082694472007-01-09T18:42:00.000-08:002007-01-09T18:42:00.000-08:00"Wesley, can you comment on the hospital's claim that they were unable to insert an NG tube?"<BR/><BR/>The literature speaks about the gag reflex or vomiting--but says that you have suctioning available in case of that. I'm going to ask my nurse paralegal about this. It sounds fishy to me.Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18233086317541487517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10381465.post-1168380123308611232007-01-09T14:02:00.000-08:002007-01-09T14:02:00.000-08:00That is beyond my pay grade. But someone asking for food should certainly receive it.Wesley J. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00087063614354714652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10381465.post-1168379677515513952007-01-09T13:54:00.000-08:002007-01-09T13:54:00.000-08:00Wesley, can you comment on the hospital's claim that they were unable to insert an NG tube?<BR/><BR/>If true, it's of course my opinion that they should certainly have put in the stomach tube.<BR/><BR/>But what might cause such problems inserting an NG tube?<BR/><BR/>I ask because I have known of a case of a stroke victim who was terribly thirsty and was given only a drip and no NG tube. They claimed that the minor surgery for a stomach tube posed too great a risk because of a heart problem. (But of course if you don't get food you'll die, so what kind of risk is that?) But I never could understand why an NG tube wasn't administered. This was an acquaintance of mine only, so I heard all information about his case indirectly and had no standing or opportunity to question doctors.<BR/><BR/>Is there something about stroke patients that can make it impossible to put in an NG tube?<BR/><BR/>In that case, families shd. be able to demand the stomach tube.<BR/><BR/>At least there's an inquest in this case. I hope the doctors get the book thrown at them.Lydia McGrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317227715474813082noreply@blogger.com