Spider Bite Patient dies of Helicopter Crash

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I have learned that one of the recent deaths in Flagstaff Arizona was a  
DOUBLE IATROGENIC DEATH.  
 
One of the helicopters was carrying a patient that had developed an  
anaphalactoid reaction after receiving ANTIVENIN for a  spider bite.   There is 
virtually NO spider in North America  which requires spider antivenin.   So, this 
patient could have  stayed where they were with NO spider antivenin (assuming 
all things are  as stated earlier).    Then because this patient was in the  
helicopter, it crashed into another helicopter.    This was  obviously NOT a 
wilderness rescue, it was an inter hospital transfer, most of  which can be most 
expediciously accomplished in North America by Ground  Ambulance.      OR NO 
TRANSPORT AT ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN  REQUIRED.    This is the kind of case where a 
regional person  could give advice to the sending doctor or nurse to treat the 
patient at the  origonal site.   (Telemedicine)
 
k
 
 
In a message dated 7/1/2008 8:48:23 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
donn at phudpucker.com writes:

You're  correct, of course, but consider that medical directors are employees
too -  or contractors - and just like the medic who refuses, when an MD  runs
contrary to profitable business practices...... 

Voices on  other discussion groups posit regulation as the only hope. Not
sure I  disagree.

Donn





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