Do i have a case of medical negligence?

[40661]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? AZ
Recently I was in the ER for chest pain. I had the normal first exam by the staff and was told to wait. I was then transfered to a room with a nurse to draw blood. One nurse took blood from me and left. A second nurse stayd in the room and started an IV. The nurse told me she was going to give me Morphine for my pain. I told nurse that i did not nor need Morphine. Nurse told me what was my pain level and i told her a #2. (#10 being the highest). Nurse tells me its what the Doctor ordered and injected me with the Morphine. I told the nurse i did not feel good several times. Nurse walked out of the room. Within two minutes my heart Stopped for 10 to 12 seconds. My family member who was in the room with me had to yell for help. I came back on my own after the 10 to 12 second stop. I was kept in the hospital for 2 days with a cardiologist. Everthing is fine with my heart. So the question is do I have a case of medical negligence since I told the nurse i never wanted the Morphine and my heart stopped? Should I even have been given Morphine for a pain level of a 2?

 

[ecmst12]

How much morphine were you given? And did a doctor tell you the morphine caused your heart to stop, or did it stop because you were having a heart attack?

 

[lya]

The patient presented to the ED with "chest pain" and as of yet does not report any allergy to Morphine.

Morphine serves several purposes in the presence of a cardiac event; therefore, even with a pain reported as #2, it is part of the protocol.

Cardiac events as a side effect of Morphine are less than 5% and involve more than a pause that resolves without further intervention.

I see no indication of negligence/malpractice.

 

[40661]

I was given 4mg of Morphine. Cardiologist reported that my heart is fine and the Morphine caused my heart to stop. Do I have a right to refuse the medication from the nurse even though it is so called "protocol"? If i was never given the Morphine my heart would have never stopped.

 

[ecmst12]

The nurse has to follow the orders from the doctor. Also, you appear to have no damages.

 

[longsally111]

OMG, you are saying your "heart stopped and restarted on its own after 10-12 seconds" and this is from Morphine> Are you kidding me? prove it!!!! BTWm you stayed in the hospital because you went in for chest pains. You were well taken care of ( you are alive) and you have no damages.

 

[40661]

Yes, you got it. I came back on my own and no help from the nurse who killed me. It was proven that the Morphine killed my heart by the cardiologist. I guess im the lucky one who came out of that hospital alive, but how many others didn't because of their negligence. I refused the medication in the first place. Its a scary feeling to die and it leaves a psychological scar that should have never happened.

 

[longsally111]

again I say, PROVE IT!!!! You have no damages.

 

[lealea1005]

As Lya stated earlier, Morphine is given as part of the protocol for acute chest pain if there is a suspected cardiac event. It dilates the blood vessels, thereby lowering the blood pressure and slowing down the heart. You were given a total of 4mg divided into 2 doses of 2mg. That's a very low dose. Unfortunately, one of the KNOWN side effects of Morphine is respiratory arrest....which is what I suspect happened. Were you also given Nitoglycerin under your tongue or any other medication while you were there?

No one "killed" you and no one "killed" your heart. Your Cardiologist has assured you there is no damage to your heart. There was no negligence that I can see.

 

[Proserpina]

Yes, you got it. I came back on my own and no help from the nurse who killed me. It was proven that the Morphine killed my heart by the cardiologist. I guess im the lucky one who came out of that hospital alive, but how many others didn't because of their negligence. I refused the medication in the first place. Its a scary feeling to die and it leaves a psychological scar that should have never happened.

You can't file a medmal suit based on what has happened to someone else.

(next of kin/children notwithstanding)

Additionally you were given a standard dosage - the fact that you may have suffered a reaction does not mean that anybody is at fault.

 

[40661]

Do patients have a right to refuse medication?
Thank you everyone for your opinions and advice!

 

[Proserpina]

Do patients have a right to refuse medication?
Thank you everyone for your opinions and advice!

Absolutely (assuming the patient is competent).

Was this actually administered into your IV line despite you having made it clear you did not want morphine?

 

[40661]

Yes. Zofran and Morphine was administered in an IV line after I told the nurse I did not want the medication. Oh ya, I was not given a nitro pill under the tongue.

 

[ecmst12]

The nurse did not have the right to disobey doctor's orders. If you'd asked to speak to the doctor, he might not have administered the medication, or he might have explained to you why it was needed.

 

[rmorlock]

nurses orders vs patients rights of refusal. I think the patient wins. The nurse should have reported back to the doctor that the patient refuses treatment.

Of course we are only hearing one side of the story. . .