Question about death accelerated by c.diff

[GeorgiaBoy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? My Mom just died in Georgia, I live in Alabama. Question, if your Mom dies account of complications from a bout with c.diff that was brought on by a doctor giving her a powerful antibiotic but she had a living will that prevented her by her own free will from being placed on a feeding tube life support system can anything be done legally?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[justalayman]

what are you suggesting the doctor did wrong that caused your mothers death?

I'm really missing the point of your question.

[lealea1005]

I am sorry for your loss, however, I am unclear, as well.

Are you stating your mother contracted c diff from the antibiotics the Physician prescribed or from another source?

Were the antibiotics prescribed to treat the c diff?

What was the illness that brought your Mother to the hospital?

[GeorgiaBoy]

Sorry to be so long in getting back. I have been having to go to Mom's home to close it out. As for the answers to your questions best I can, her long time family doctor admitted that the strong oral antibiotic he prescribed for an infected leg wound apparently gave her the c.diff. Mom had a skin cancer on her leg removed by dermatologist. He gave her a topical antibiotic to treat the wound while it healed. However, it got infected. Instead of seeing the dermatologist she had an appointment for some reason with her regular family practice Dr. He notes the infection in the wound and prescribed her a strong oral antibiotic. Eventually, she became sick and could not eat. Mother was admitted to the hospital for gastrointestinal problems and stomach bloating. The hospital test showed that she had contracted c.diff, a problem that is caused usually by antibiotics that kill the good bacteria in the colon and allow the bad bacteria in the colon to run rampant causing all sorts of intestinal problems. It’s highly contagious if you contact bodily fluids. I had to suit up in full body protective clothing just to see her while she was in the hospital. As for treatment, strangely, additional antibiotics were prescribed by IV to counter the resulting c. diff. Took about a month for her to get over it but she never really regained her ability to stomach food in enough quantity to survive. The doctors offered to attach a feeding tube to her stomach to see if that would pull her out of it but account of her living will she refused to be hooked up to tubes and hoses. She was eventually transferred to a hospice unit and after a couple of weeks there, she was released to go home but still under the care of the hospice staff. Eventually, she basically starved to death. She died late one evening in her sleep. Death cert. states "Failure to thrive". After some research, I believe some doctors prescribe along with a strong antibiotic a live bacteria type of pill of some sort to go along with it. This supposedly offsets the negative effects of the strong antibiotic by replacing the good bacteria it kills. Why did her doctor not do this is my question knowing that my Mom was 85 years old? Is anyone responsible for her death since she refused the feeding tube? Many thanks in advance for your thoughts, recommendations and advice.

[Antigone*of*Greece]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaBoy

Sorry to be so long in getting back. I have been having to go to Mom's home to close it out. As for the answers to your questions best I can, her long time family doctor admitted that the strong oral antibiotic he prescribed for an infected leg wound apparently gave her the c.diff. Mom had a skin cancer on her leg removed by dermatologist. He gave her a topical antibiotic to treat the wound while it healed. However, it got infected. Instead of seeing the dermatologist she had an appointment for some reason with her regular family practice Dr. He notes the infection in the wound and prescribed her a strong oral antibiotic. Eventually, she became sick and could not eat. Mother was admitted to the hospital for gastrointestinal problems and stomach bloating. The hospital test showed that she had contracted c.diff, a problem that is caused usually by antibiotics that kill the good bacteria in the colon and allow the bad bacteria in the colon to run rampant causing all sorts of intestinal problems. It’s highly contagious if you contact bodily fluids. I had to suit up in full body protective clothing just to see her while she was in the hospital. As for treatment, strangely, additional antibiotics were prescribed by IV to counter the resulting c. diff. Took about a month for her to get over it but she never really regained her ability to stomach food in enough quantity to survive. The doctors offered to attach a feeding tube to her stomach to see if that would pull her out of it but account of her living will she refused to be hooked up to tubes and hoses. She was eventually transferred to a hospice unit and after a couple of weeks there, she was released to go home but still under the care of the hospice staff. Eventually, she basically starved to death. She died late one evening in her sleep. Death cert. states "Failure to thrive". After some research, I believe some doctors prescribe along with a strong antibiotic a live bacteria type of pill of some sort to go along with it. This supposedly offsets the negative effects of the strong antibiotic by replacing the good bacteria it kills. Why did her doctor not do this is my question knowing that my Mom was 85 years old? Is anyone responsible for her death since she refused the feeding tube? Many thanks in advance for your thoughts, recommendations and advice.

Yes, there is someone who bears the responsibility for your mom's death ~ God. He decided that 85 years was enough for her.

I know this must be a very difficult time for you but I don't see any negligence or malpractice here.

[Proserpina]

After some research, I believe some doctors prescribe along with a strong antibiotic a live bacteria type of pill of some sort to go along with it. This supposedly offsets the negative effects of the strong antibiotic by replacing the good bacteria it kills. Why did her doctor not do this is my question knowing that my Mom was 85 years old? Is anyone responsible for her death since she refused the feeding tube? Many thanks in advance for your thoughts, recommendations and advice.

Such as what?

Regardless Mom herself decided to withhold treatment; I believe you would have a very difficult time proving negligence and/or malpractice.

[lya]

C-diff is treated with antibiotics to kill the C-diff bacteria. It is not highly contagious but is easily spread to those in weakened conditions.

A feeding tube would have allowed intake of nutrients and good bacteria to restore the normal flora in the gut. Mom refused as was her right.

I absolutely loved reading your dialect; it made me smile.

[Gail in Georgia]

I work in a hospital (in nutrition) that has many elderly patients who are given antibiotics for a wide variety of medical issues seen in this age group. Some develop c.difficile colitis (which, as has been pointed out, is treated with other antibiotics).

We've found that probiotic medications (which attempt to "reseed" the gut) are typically useless meds for this purpose. We've stopped using them.

Your mother had decided that aggressive nutrition intervention such as PEG feeding tubes/parenteral nutrition was not something she would agree to. Although her living will indicated this, she could have changed this decision if she wished to reconsider this. There are folks who rescind hospice status and of course, this is their right to do this.

At that point she was moved into a nursing home hospice unit and, eventually, into home hospice where she passed away.

The medical team cannot "force" her to have a feeding tube placed if she has legal documentation forbidding this.

Gail

[ecmst12]

Feeding tubes cause some other nasty/uncomfortable side effects too.

[justalayman]

georgiaboy, I am not nearly as knowledgeable as some of the others that have posted on this thread concerning medical situations but I have read some about c.diff.

as you stated, it is basically where the "good" bacteria are killed off as a result of antibiotic treatment for some other ailment. The c.diff. bacteria, which is already in a persons gut and held at bay by the "good" bacteria, run rampant and do cause this very serious situation. The result, even with all treatments known and accepted can still be death. Much like many other illnesses, the medical field can only do what they can and the patients system is responsible for the rest.

Unless there was some egregious error in treatment, it would appear that, simply, nature has been nature and your mother simply could not overcome the situation.

The fact your mother did not want a feeding tube is a choice your mother made, apparently willingly so, no, there is no action available to you considering the doctors refusal to insert a feeding tube.
In fact, if they did install a tube counter to her wishes, they then would have been guilty of violating your mothers rights.

That may or may not have changed the situation. She may not have recovered even if the feeding tube was installed.

I do understand your loss and hope you find a way to accept your loss. I do understand how difficult it can be.

[lya]

Originally Posted by Gail in Georgia

We've found that probiotic medications (which attempt to "reseed" the gut) are typically useless meds for this purpose. We've stopped using them.
Gail

Unless contraindicated, I have my patients eating active-culture yogurt and drinking active-culture buttermilk--even if I have to put it down 'the tube'! I start it before or immediately after I give the first dose of one of those strong antibiotics. It does seem to make a positive difference in patients who are not already debilitated by nutritional deficits or sepsis.

[GeorgiaBoy]

Many thanks to all that responded! My Mom was the best and I just wanted to look at all aspects of her passing. I do not think it was a path that I would have chosen. I appreciate all your answers and will close this inquest here. Have a Great week!!!

[justalayman]

A loss of a mother is very difficult to experience (I know 1st hand) and many thoughts go through your mind. Could have, should have, would have, maybe if they had, maybe if I had, are always going to beat you up.

glad to hear it appears you can now accept her passing and look to the future.

thanks for finalizing your thread.