Calif. man faints, dies after seeing epidural

Reuters ^ | 7-7-05 | Anon

[Puddleglum]

I looked away when they were giving my wife the epidural. Just the thought of it made me squeamish.

[Trust but Verify]

Yeah, then they can look dorky in all the shots of them holding the newborn as if THEY birthed the baby!

[malia]

This couple should have know of husbands limitations.

I pray this does not interfer with the bonding that occurs between a family due to being a part of the birthing. My son cut his son's umbilical cord!

[Just another Joe]

In June 2004, Passalaqua's husband, Steven Passalaqua, was asked by Kaiser staff to hold and steady his wife while an employee inserted an epidural needle into her back, court papers said.

If he was, in fact, asked by the staff to do this then, imo, the hospital bears some blame.
I don't know how much she's asking for but if the staff did ask him to do this they were taking a risk they should not have.

What would have happened if she would have moved, in spite of him holding her steady, and the epi had gone wrong and paralyzed her?
In a medical procedure you don't involve a layman unless it's an emergency, and an epi is NOT an emergency.

[soundandvision]

A spokesman for Oakland, California-based Kaiser Permanente called the death "a tragic accident."

And another thing, God bless this rep of Kaiser for saying this. I've made this argument TIME AND AGAIN on FR and anywhere I speak up and voice an opinion. Apparently, in the modern America there just AREN'T any 'tragic accidents' anymore. SOMEONE has to f------ sue.

Someone has GOT to pay -- spare me.

[beaversmom]

ping

[popdonnelly]

Our legal system marches on, crushing common sense in its path!

[Little Pig]

I'm impressed they let you film that. The hospital told us no pictures during the actual moments of delivery for liability reasons.

[Tax-chick]

No, it's not odd, and he wouldn't be "holding her down" so much as just helping to hold her still. She was probably lying on her side. A pregnant woman is rather like a walrus, and it's very hard for her to keep totally still when she's having contractions while getting a needle stuck in her back.

He didn't have to look.

[BenLurkin]

I was present for my kid's births, epidurals and all, including one Cesarean procedure.

Didn't faint. Found it fascinating . Appreciated the opportunity to be there.

[kingu]

Eh. Forget the helmet, or wear one if you wish. But don't forget the cup; that's a required piece of safety equipment in the birth room.

[Monterrosa-24]

This just proves (again) that some people will try to sue over anything. Nobody forced the guy to go in to coach along his wife in the delivery room. What did he think would happen in there? Women get epidurals, shots, episiotomies, etc.

This case should be thrown out and the not-so-bereaved money-grubbing wife and her lawyer should pay court costs and fines.

[andrew2527]

That might be a result of erroneous reporting. Rather than "hold and steady" her, more likely they asked him to hold her hand and comfort her.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Tragic.

Yeah, but funny to me, in a black sort of way. I was in exactly that situation with my wife some years ago, and the OB-GYN doctors told me to be sure I could handle it, because if I fell and hit my head... well, they weren't that sort of doctor.

[white trash redneck]

When I was on the med school faculty, we had a fairly attractive undergrad doing an "externship" in our department, who wanted to accompany me to the OR to watch a procedure. Within 15 seconds after I started she went to ground; as an extra bonus, on the way down she struck her head on the collection trap for the wall suction, raising a nice egg on her head and, more important, disabling the wall suction.

No permanent damage to coed, patient, or OR fixtures, but pretty irritating at the time.

[motormouth]

It's a shame he died, but to sue the hospital is foolish.

And if I remember correctly, the procedure is explained fully to both before it even begins ...If he felt he couldnt handle it, he should have left!!

[dfwgator]

I was there for both of my kid's births, and they were C-Sections. And I saw everything. It was interesting, but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, that's for sure.

[bdog2995]

So he's a sissy and dies from his own lack of manhood and somehow the hospital is responsible. One thing is for sure.... a couple of million dollars will probably make her forget all about her loss.

[B4Ranch]

Don't worry, you won't be able to fit your head in there to look around.

[cjshapi]

Thanks. Wasn't sure if he was doing something trained personnel should be doing.