Foster Brother's Wife Just Died, Q for Doc's

[dewolf]

Title says it all really. Married 25 years. He is my foster brother but he is just as good as my real brother. He has been part of our family for 30 years. I have a question for the Doc's.


The SIL went into hospital feeling very ill. Vomiting and diarrhea. This was Saturday Night. Hospital said she had a gastro bug that is going around. Monday comes and she is worse. Temp spiking over 40C and can't hold down even a sip of water. She goes back to the hospital yesterday morning and they admit her for gastro. She wears a Medic Alert for allergies to Penicillin derived antibiotics. Well they claim they gave her non Penicillin based antibiotics this morning and an hour later she went into unrecoverable cardiac arrest.
Hospital is saying there was nothing they could do. My BIL is asking for an autopsy and the hospital is saying it isn't necessary. Something just does'nt add up here.
Should I or he contact the State Coroner's office and ask them to look into it before the body is released to my brother?
What would they have used instead of penicillin based drugs?

Edit...my sister just told me more people from a party they were at Saturday are suffering from salmonella. Should she have been checked for this as well?

[HardDrive]

I would make all inquiries, and hire an attorney. But your asking an American in this case, we tend to head for the big guns on the spot.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I would make all inquiries, and hire an attorney. But your asking an American in this case, we tend to head for the big guns on the spot.

We do tend to be a bit more subdued here, granted. But sh$t, this was a perfectly healthy 46 year old woman. Don't want her death to be in vain.

[Jim Bremner]

sorry for your loss.

[porsche4life]

Sorry to hear this.

Get an autopsy.

[dewolf]

Thanks guys.

[rsNINESOOPER]

Very sorry to hear of your loss.

Losing someone over a simple mistake at the hospital if this is the case happens more than you think. It would seem worth looking into for sure due to the allergy. My dad lost all his fingers and toes to an allergic reaction to a medicine administered to him that was clearly shown on his medical wrist band as being dangerous to him. Point being no one should ever go to the hospital without a guardian, someone who will be there every minute while things are going on. It's better to be annoying than the alternative. It's already a red flag that the hospital is saying there is no reason to perform an autopsy. Anyone who dies before their time while in good health should raise suspicion to a modern medical facility that there is a prudent reason to find the cause. There is no reason to go bus chasing just yet but contacting the county coroner as mentioned is a good idea to ge the ball rolling. Speaking from experience, going after a hospital for malpractice is a matter of how much money you have at least here in the states where lawyers have ruined everything from skate boarding to hospital visits. Although you can spill coffee in your lap like an idiot and wind up a millionaire.

Again, sorry for your family's loss- RIP

[widgeon13]

Sorry for your loss.

Was she on an IV to replenish her fluids since vomiting and diarrhea quickly lead to dehydration. If not treated can cause more serious issues.

Very sad situation but I'd encourage an autopsy just to know for certain the cause of death.

[PorscheGAL]

In most, if not all, states in the US an autopsy is required if someone dies without an explanation. Explanation being that the person was under treatment for a specific, definable illness and their doctor is willing to sign the death certificate stating that point. I would call the coroner.

Sorry for your loss.

[stomachmonkey]

Nothing to add other than my condolences.

[andrew15]

Sorry for your loss.
In answer to your original question - Erythromycin can be used for people that are allergic to penicillin.

AM

[Noah930]

Sorry for your family's sudden loss. Condolences.

There are quite a few antibiotics that can be used which are not derivatives of penecillin. It's very possible/likely that no penecillin-based medication was given. But if you want to double check, for every medication given in a hospital setting there will be extensive documentation at various levels. The physician has to write an order. The physician may or may not document in the history and physical or dailiy progress notes (in the chart) what the medication was and why it was administered. The hospital pharmacy has to log the order (and fill it if the medication isn't stocked on the floor/ward). A daily list of medications will be generated for each patient on the floor. Then the nurse has to document at what time each medication was administered to the patient (and if an antibiotic, what fluid the antibiotic powder was mixed with to allow for its administration intravenously). There will be a big paper trail for this type of stuff. If a patient is known to be penecillin-allergic (which will be noted in multiple places in the chart, BTW) it would be unusual for this to get by so many different levels of checks. Particularly if some sort of computerized medical record keeping is used by the pharmacy. Nothing's impossible--just unusual.

Re: autopsy, that's handled differently in every state here in the US, at least. Not all deaths receive a post-mortem. But there are certain criteria by which the coroner's office must be called. A suspicious death (i.e. suspected homicide, death within 72 hours of admission to the hospital, death within 72 hours of an elective surgery, death of a child, etc--each state has different criteria) mandates a call to the coroner. The coroner's office then determines whether or not they wish to take the case. If they do, they come to pick up the deceased. If not, no autopsy is done. However, the family is always allowed the option of one, even if the medical examiner declines. However, I'm not sure who foots the bill in that case. Furthermore, the autopsy (unless you've got someone who's willing to do it for you) will likely be done by the pathology department of the hospital. It's not meant as some sort of cover up. That's just who's available to do it. I'm sure if you had another lab in mind to do it for you, the hospital would allow for that. At least, that's the way things are typically done in the U.S.

[pavulon]

Not sure what antibiotic she was receiving but some can cause hypotension (low BP) if infused too quickly. If she was dehydrated and possibly septic, something like running an antibiotic too quickly could be a real bad idea/mistake. Sorry for your loss.

[dewolf]

Thanks guys. Brother called the coroner's office last night and he (the coroner) is going to the hospital today to have a look over the notes etc. I will let you know the outcome.
Again, thanks.

Scott

[MattKellett]

Scott

I don't have any advice for you medically, but just wanted to send my condolences for your loss to both you and your brother.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

In most, if not all, states in the US an autopsy is required if someone dies without an explanation. Explanation being that the person was under treatment for a specific, definable illness and their doctor is willing to sign the death certificate stating that point. I would call the coroner.

Sorry for your loss.

Sorry for your loss but would agree with the above. It sounds funny and there is no way right now to pin it down. Anytime the people in charge say "nothing more is needed" thats the first thing I am going to do. Get an autopsy.

[pwd72s]

My condolances as well.

Since Australia is a socialized medicine country, I haven't a clue about how you should proceed. Neverthless, I'm glad you are doing something.

[turn9]

Sorry for your loss.

Her cardiac arrest may not have anything to do with an allergic
reaction to an antibiotic. Profuse diarrhea and vomiting cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, loss of potassium,chloride,sodium which can trigger cardiac arrhythmias and death if not urgently corrected. Obtain a copy of her medical records, including all blood work , and have someone with medical or medico-legal background analyze them

Again, my condolences to you and your brother.

T9

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by turn9

Sorry for your loss.

Her cardiac arrest may not have anything to do with an allergic
reaction to an antibiotic. Profuse diarrhea and vomiting cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, loss of potassium,chloride,sodium which can trigger cardiac arrhythmias and death if not urgently corrected. Obtain a copy of her medical records, including all blood work , and have someone with medical or medico-legal background analyze them

Again, my condolences to you and your brother.

T9

+1 to all of the above, dehydration can lead to heart attack, even in otherwise healthy person.

sorry for your loss