Posted on 03/19/2009 1:09:05 PM PDT by LottieDah
Tony-winning actress Natasha Richardson was killed by a blunt trauma to the head and her death was ruled an accident, the city Medical Examiner reported Thursday.
Richardson sustained an epidermal hematoma - a blood clot that forms upon impact and starts growing between the brain and the skull - after wiping out Monday on the bunny slope while skiing at a Canadian resort.
"This is a very treatable condition if you're aware of what the problem is and the patient is quickly transferred to a hospital," Dr. Keith Siller of New York University Langone Medical Center said. "But there is very little time to correct this."
Richardson gave no sign that she was seriously hurt until about an hour after she fell and twice turned down offers to take her to a doctor, witnesses said.
It wasn't until Richardson developed a pounding headache that she was rushed to a Montreal hospital.
The ME's finding came as Broadway prepared to dim its light in memory of Richardson.
For one minute starting at 8 p.m., marquees up and down the Great White Way will go dark as a tribute to Richardson, who died on Wednesday.
"The Broadway community is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our finest young actresses," said Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League.
Meanwhile, plans were being finalized for a family-centered funeral where actor husband Liam Neeson and their two sons can mourn with kin and close friends, sources said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
You are probably right. When she passed out in the hospital, some bureaucratic puke probably whined “Hey, we can’t just scan her because she’s hurt there’s a waiting list ya know. Equal medicine for all.” or something equally noxious.
Socialized medicine coming to us thanks to BHO and his always by his side teleprompter.
And this is something that nearly all of us have done at one time without giving it another thought.
The whole event is sadness on top of sadness.
Who among us has fallen down...and hit their head?
Who among us has said, "I'm fine, no problem...I'm good"....
Life is fragile at times....but we don't always know it.
You are both wrong. It’s called “talk and die” syndrome. By the time the victim realizes there is something wrong, via a headache, it’s already too late.
Yeah. Sometimes we just don’t realize that little bump wasn’t so little.
The article mistakenly calls it an “epidermal” hematoma.
It’s actually “epidural”, and time is of the essence in treating it.
http://www.muhealth.org/neuromed/epidural.shtml
I’ve been reading this stuff for 2 days and never noticed the difference. Thanks for pointing it out.
Response: I think the correct term is an "..epidural hematoma...."
Comment: At any rate, what a freak accident. A minor bump and then death for a young person. So sad. Prayers for her family.
Well, let me ask a doctor friend and see what he says.
Dr. Willie Maket, M.D., ph.D, Psy.D, LSD:
“My analysis is very analyzing and I do indeed perceive that my esteemed colleague Dr. Leonide, whose expertise in the writings of Bret Hart and whose extensive knowledge of professional wrestling is indeed unmatched in the U.S. and the whole world over is possibly correct in his estimation that socialized medicine is a bad idea but he is absolutely wacky if he thinks the lovely lady died from an aneurysm induced by blunt trauma. Prof. Leonide just doesn’t understand medicine because he was a fellow student back when we were in undergrad studies and he failed anatomy three times in a row. At that point, it was wise of him to forego his dreams of medical school.”
Your answer to being proved incorrect is sarcasm. Okay.
You mean with an answer like that I still have to put the Sarc/ at the end of it?
Well, let me ask my doctor friend... LOL! Sarc/
No, she had little time to go get this fixed and didn’t go. Epidurals are deadly,,any blow to the temple right above the ear is so risky.
On these threads one can never tell. ;-)
No.
She had immediate access to medical services, but apparently declined (I would’ve too, not knowing what I know now).
Once she fell ill, she received immediate treatment.
She was flown to the US only after she was brain dead.
By the time the severe headaches came on, a lot of bleeding had probably occurred, with resulting pressure on the brain. Very critical to have the hematoma removed ASAP.
Similar to shaken baby syndrome.
Golly. We never used to think of wearing a helmet for doing anything; but now it looks like a helmet is needed in any sport.
I noticed that too, it’s epidural hematoma (above the dura)
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