Article, then # 1 , # 2 .
Thanks, Nully.
Posted on 09/07/2014 12:54:35 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Probe widens from the health department investigation.
The New York Police Department is investigating Joan Rivers' death, a police source confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday.
The 81-year-old comedian passed away on Thursday after being taken off life support. The previous week, she had entered Yorkville Endoscopy for a routine procedure on her throat when she reportedly suffered cardiac arrest. She was admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan later that same day.
"Yes, NYPD is investigating," the police source told THR. "We investigate all such deaths, meaning 'not by natural causes.' Although it might end up being ruled natural by the [medical examiner], when it's not readily apparent, we investigate,"
On Friday, the New York City's Medical Examiner's office told THR Rivers' autopsy was "pending further studies."
The New York State Department of Health has launched its own investigation into Rivers' death.
I assume it is the journalists that didn’t know. If she indeed was not being monitored that is definitely medical negligence. Although the information won’t be made public unless there is litigation and the case goes to court.
IIRC, this is what caused Dubya to pass out when he ate the Pretzel Of Doom.
Or the health department has found something of suspicion in the clinic and the high profile nature of this case is forcing them to do the kind of investigation that should have been done before.
While anything is possible, I still feel it is the high profile of Rivers, not the outcome of the “minor surgery” that is the driver of this investigation. That and a lot of media attention that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.
Yes, you’re right about epinephrine being used on cardiac events. As for the atropine, I was right AND I was wrong. This is from Wikipedia:
“Resuscitation
Injections of atropine are used in the treatment of bradycardia (an extremely low heart rate). Atropine blocks the action of the vagus nerve, a part of the parasympathetic system of the heart whose main action is to decrease heart rate. Therefore, its primary function in this circumstance is to increase the heart rate. Atropine was previously included in international resuscitation guidelines for use in cardiac arrest associated with asystole and PEA, but was removed from these guidelines in 2010 due to a lack of evidence.[5] For symptomatic bradycardia, the usual dosage is 0.5 to 1 mg IV push, may repeat every 3 to 5 minutes up to a total dose of 3 mg (maximum 0.04 mg/kg).[6]”
I don’t keep up with this stuff, and a Wiki page isn’t a good source. But I DO know that any outpatient clinic doing this type of procedure needs a crash cart loaded with atropine and epi. Anything else is just a tragedy waiting to happen. (It goes without saying that someone qualified to push these meds should be included with the crash cart!)
I’ll be watching this developing story with interest. Mainly, I want to know why in the heck SOMEONE didn’t start CPR. And didn’t they have a portable defibrillator? These can even be operated by an untrained layperson and every mall in America has one now, so I hear. (Due to all the elderly mall-walkers.) There are just so many questions that need to be answered.
<< “IIRC, this is what caused Dubya to pass out when he ate the Pretzel Of Doom.” >>
I had forgotten about that! I don’t know that i ever heard what caused Dubya’s little incident, but it certainly could have. I guess maybe I missed that little tidbit of info at the time.
Article, then # 1 , # 2 .
Thanks, Nully.
I wonder if she had a DNR order in place.
All deaths not deemed natural cause are investigated
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