Girl declared brain-dead after eating hemlock - Parents Donating Organs

The Dallas Morning News ^ | March 13, 2002 | By HOLLY WARREN / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

Girl declared brain-dead after eating hemlock

Second Dallas teen who samples the plant makes full recovery

03/13/2002

By HOLLY WARREN / The Dallas Morning News

A Dallas girl who ate hemlock has been declared brain-dead, hospital officials said Tuesday.

Catherine Vanstone, 13, was among a group of Dallas-area girls spending spring break at Perennial Vacation Club just outside Bandera, about 40 miles west of San Antonio.

She found the hemlock along a riverbed during a nature hike.

Bandera County Sheriff James MacMillan said Catherine and another girl went for a walk Sunday afternoon along the Medina River. They found and ate some of a plant that looked like celery.

Dr. Miguel Fernández, director for the South Texas Poison Center and a board-certified medical toxicologist, spoke Tuesday with the other girl.

"She said she ate a handful, but ... [Catherine] ate more," Dr. Fernández said.

Both girls began experiencing tingling in their hands and feet, felt dizzy and could not tolerate light, he said. Catherine's tongue swelled, making it difficult for her to breathe, and she lost consciousness. The other girl has recovered.

Sheriff MacMillan estimated that it was a few hours between the time the girls ate the plant and when 911 was called, about 9 p.m. Catherine was flown to University Hospital in San Antonio.

"It's a terrible thing that happened. I don't think anyone knew these girls were eating these plants," he said. "I've been here 20 years and we haven't had anybody under this situation."

Tony Ronquillo, community relations manager of Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, said Catherine's parents have decided to donate her organs.

Catherine was still on a respirator Tuesday afternoon to keep her organs viable. Mr. Ronquillo said it would be 12 to 18 hours before they could take her to surgery.

Dr. Fernández said that it is unclear why the other girl did not get as sick. He said Catherine probably suffered an allergic reaction.

Dr. Fernández said there were only six deaths out of 106,385 reported plant exposure cases nationwide in 2000. None of those deaths was caused by hemlock. These numbers are similar to 1999, when only four deaths out of 113,864 cases were reported.

"Death is pretty rare," Dr. Fernández said.

Hemlock, which resembles the top leafy part of a carrot, is found near waterways across North America. Symptoms can include dry mouth, blurry vision, dilated pupils, confusion, frightening hallucinations and dry, flushed skin.

If someone eats hemlock, 911 or poison control (1-800-222-1222) should be called immediately.

E-mail hwarren@dallasnews.com

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/031302dnmethemlock.88e21.html

[sasquatch]

Girl declared brain-dead after eating hemlock - Parents Donating Organs

Do the doners get a limited liability statement??

[anniegetyourgun]

Don't tell the Hemlock Society about this. They may be forced to admit that one can off oneself, rather than requiring doctors to get involved.

[Constitution Day]

Ping...

[Lil'freeper]

113,864 cases were reported.

Wow, more hemlock eaters than school shootings. Time for hemlock control!

[Orual]

If someone eats hemlock, 911 or poison control (1-800-222-1222) should be called immediately.

Darn busy signal.

[sasquatch]

Don't tell the Hemlock Society about this. They may be forced to admit that one can off oneself, rather than requiring doctors to get involved.

The north coast of Santa Cruz is loaded with the stuff. We can only hope.

[aardvark1]

Catherine was still on a respirator Tuesday afternoon to keep her organs viable.

So her "body" is still alive to keep her organs viable.

[Doctor Stochastic]

There were a couple of Air Force guys hiking in the Jémez Mountains several years ago who ate some wild hemlock. Same result, one dead, one recovered. They thought it was wild watercress.

[babyface00]

I agree. Under the same rationale as gun control, hemlock would seem to have no other purpose than to "kill people" so only the police and government should have it.

On second thought, let's just make hemlock illegal. It worked for alchol, pot, heroin, cocaine, etc. didn't it?

[hobbes1]

Can someone please prepare a large salad for Senator Hillary!ous.

[Conservababe]

So her "body" is still alive to keep her organs viable.

Yes, this is true. The patient is pronounced dead and the death certificate signed. But, in all other aspects, the body is still being monitored, blood being drawn and hydration continues to ensure viability of the organs for harvest.

The most difficult duty as a Respiratory Therapist was being assigned ventilatory management of organ donars.

[boris]

I understand that they had to force Socrates to drink some.

[Clemenza]

Hey, maybe the Athenians were wrong about Socrates's sentence. By making him take hemlock, he indeed corrupted the youth of the West as a "role model."

[Hellmouth]

This sounds like Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) as opposed to Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum). They're both poisonous, but the Water Hemlock is much more deadly, ranking right up there with the Death Camus in toxicity.

If you're ever foraging in the wild, avoid the three above plants and Amanita Mushrooms.

[Clara Lou]

This is sad, but interesting. I didn't know that hemlock grew here in Texas. Who goes around munching off of plants growing by a river? Strange.

[kassie]

It grew all over our ranch, which is 15 miles north of San Antonio.

[Clara Lou]

What does it do to cattle and horses? Or do they leave it alone?

[Carry_Okie]

Maybe we should send this to Mardy Wormwood, along with a notice of liability.

[eno_]

I do. But I know what I'm doing. This is one situation where it is best to read the documentation first.