How to declare someone dead

created by alex.tan

(place) by TheDoctor (2.3 wk) (print) ? (I like it!) 1 C! Wed Apr 12 2006 at 4:08:34

On this night, I'm observing and assisting at Rhode Island Hospital's (RIH) ER. Part of the fun of doing Emergency Medical Service (EMS) at the University is the side frills. Sure, we don't get paid, but we get small discounts at area establishments. And we can take small paid details every so often. But most importantly, we can help at RIH's ER. So anyway, after a while it seems like everything's calm; eye of the storm. I've been tagged on to a final-year nursing student in the trauma section, and we've been moving patients around.

A cardiac arrest is one of the most challenging conditions for a healthcare provider. A "code blue" has an important place in the mountain of technical medical jargon. When you do it for the first few years of a medical career, "running a code" is an exhilarating experience. You recognize the signs of a cardiac arrest, and your mind searches for the thoughts labeled "Advanced Cardiac Life Support," a mental folder full of algorithms and protocols for this situation. A very strict guide (an oxymoron, yes).

Your body's stress response activates to the new, burdening challenge before you. The adrenaline level in your body surges as dozens of additional compounds are released into your bloodstream. Your blood pressure and heart rate rise, and you find that your pupils are instantly smaller. Are you preparing to fight because your patient can't do it alone?

Rhode Island Hospital's ER is full on this Thursday night. East Providence Fire-Rescue 3 brings in a 67 yr-old male with diabetes. He has no pulse and isn't breathing. The patient has no electrical activity in the heart- flatline, asystole.

"Annie, start compressions."
"We have an I.V. Good."
"Doctor, will you intubate?"
"Push the Epi."

Beep-beep-beep. Lead off.

"A lead fell off. Switch it to pads."
"Get me three electrodes. Hang another bag."
"Push 1 of atropine."
"Is the tube in yet?"
"We have good tube placement. Capnography good."
"Hold compressions."
Flatline.

"Anyone object to me calling it?"
Silence.
"Time of death, 2247"

Warning: The high created in this method is immediately superseded by a somber feeling.

printable version
chaos

Confusing yes or no answers	He's dead, Jim. You grab his wallet, I'll grab his tricorder.	Determining the date and time of death	Happy Birthday From Planet Motherfucker
Dream Log: October 15, 2001	Asystole	And we killed him and he's dead.	OPRFHS 1994 death toll
Ack! You lost experience!	Nobody is perfect forever, you lasted a long time.	Death	Well at least this time I don't think you're dying.
Video games I wish they'd invent	Atropine	YOUR HEAD A SPLODE	squirt gun
Win any argument with a rational person (not recommended)	Prosenoder's Cup 2007	Necrosis	epinephrine
God is not dead; He is merely unemployed.	All your base are belong to us

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