Austinist: Austin Woman Dies After Mix-Up at Accident Site

bingsy

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:26:03 -0600

When you read the San Antonio article, the Fire Chief Charles Hood maintains that she might have been brain dead - claiming that organs can carry on without brain activity. This would be no reason to ignore her, and it horrifies me that he thinks it is okay. Not only will the question of whether or not the woman might have been saved go unsolved, we can all think perhaps even if she was brain dead that a prime candidate for organ donation was allowed to just sit. If the paramedics are not responsible for her death due to her being brain dead (of which I am not certain at all but just taking Hood's speculation to its end,) they would be then responsible for the potential loss of several lives - several people that may have been able to use her organs and may now die waiting. Do the paramedics not understand the specific circumstances for major organ donation that they would just throw a tarp over her? Take for instance the heart. The donor must die in a hospital, die a brain death, and be on a ventilator. This doesn't happen too often, but it might have been the case here. Even if she was brain dead, many times families - especially of the young, take much comfort in the idea that some good, some life has come from their tragedy. Even if she was brain dead, they have been denied this. His excuse wasn't very well thought out.

Waterlewd

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:16:46 -0600

The intoxication "manslaughterist" was a woman. Jenny Ann Ybarra.

Benj

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:43:26 -0600

As a successful graduate of a pretty intensive EMT-B program, I can vouch that the importance of triage is not taken lightly. This is horrible, and although mistakes happen, this kind of obvious "mix-up" is extremely rare. Not only is it conceivable that this first-responder fuck-up may have significantly contributed to this woman's death, now the attorneys for the drunk driving asshole will have no trouble making sure he doesn't get nailed for her death, of which he's now only fractionally responsible.

Grape Ape

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:32:57 -0600

Anyone want the over/under that the family goes for $50M?