Community Chat

[Lipstickdiva]

I do wonder if criminal charges can be brought because it seems to me they are warranted.

This goes beyond negligence.

[Mama Mia]

On 11/11/2014 Ford1224 said:

This has me really thinking. I have been getting endoscopies every six months for years due to a chronic stomach condition. I missed having any last year due to my back hospitalizations, and so far this year I have not called my gastro doc to schedule one so I am two years overdue. I had kyphoplasty on my back when in the hospital to repair two compressed disks. I was put into a twilight sleep for that procedure. Nothing bad happened except the surgery did not work to ease my back pain, so I would not have one again.

Since this tragedy with JR, I am hesitant to have another endoscopy even though I have always trusted my gastro doc. I have also had two colonoscopies and colon surgery to remove six inches of my colon due to chronic diverticulitis. I must say those procedures went very well. I was put completely under for both, I assume that was propofol, as was the anesthesia given for the endoscopies.

I have also had two laryngoscopies because of RA in my throat. Those were done with a local anesthesia in a doctor's office without even one assistant, just the doc and me. And also two neck surgeries because of lipomas which I seem to be prone to. I was put into twilight sleep for that. One of them was fairly deep and I developed a hematoma that lasted for months. My neck is still discolored because of that.

I do have to schedule an appointment with my gastro doc to discuss all of this before I have another endoscopy. I may be too old for propofol by now also. I know that is what has been used in the past for the endoscopies. After reading what happened to Joan, I feel like one very lucky woman. That is one scary report, and very tragic.

Ford, my goodness, you've been through it all that's for sure. I know you and I are the same age, January birthdays and all, but why do you say you may be too old for propofol now? I had a colonoscopy about four or five months ago and they used it on me, no trouble.

mm Sorry O.T.

my edit

[RainCityGirl]

Sometimes I think a person is fortunate when they come out of these procedures any time, and that includes from hospitals. I remember back to an incident in one of our hospitals in Seattle that left me numb. Check this out: http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2002100635_deathfolo25m.html

[adelle38]

On 11/11/2014 RainCityGirl said:

On 11/10/2014 adelle38 said:

On 11/10/2014 RainCityGirl said:

Why would a doctor who was using that kind of anesthesia NOT insist that the procedure be performed in a hospital and not some clinic? There is a difference between using versed or and Propofol I would think. How sad for Melissa and her son to know this didn't need to happen.

Propofol is routinely used in clinics for endoscopies and colonosopies. It scares me because it can so easily go wrong. Perhaps the investigations resulting from Joan's death will result in closer scrutiny.

I don't think they use it in the clinic I go to, but then I've only had a colonoscopy. I guess I always thought propofol was one that required more monitoring. I guess any kind of anesthesia is dangerous, though.

Propofol is used frequently for colonoscopies. My doctor wanted to use it with me. They seem to think its' no big deal. When I expressed concern, he laughed and said "you've been reading about Michael Jackson." Needless to say, I'm considering other options.

[RainCityGirl]

On 11/11/2014 adelle38 said:

On 11/11/2014 RainCityGirl said:

On 11/10/2014 adelle38 said:

On 11/10/2014 RainCityGirl said:

Why would a doctor who was using that kind of anesthesia NOT insist that the procedure be performed in a hospital and not some clinic? There is a difference between using versed or and Propofol I would think. How sad for Melissa and her son to know this didn't need to happen.

Propofol is routinely used in clinics for endoscopies and colonosopies. It scares me because it can so easily go wrong. Perhaps the investigations resulting from Joan's death will result in closer scrutiny.

I don't think they use it in the clinic I go to, but then I've only had a colonoscopy. I guess I always thought propofol was one that required more monitoring. I guess any kind of anesthesia is dangerous, though.

Propofol is used frequently for colonoscopies. My doctor wanted to use it with me. They seem to think its' no big deal. When I expressed concern, he laughed and said "you've been reading about Michael Jackson." Needless to say, I'm considering other options.

I don't blame you. I'm going to ask around and see how many clinics use it here. Maybe it isn't as dangerous as I've been led to believe, but I still wouldn't want it.

[LilacTree]

On 11/11/2014 Mama Mia said:

On 11/11/2014 Ford1224 said:

This has me really thinking. I have been getting endoscopies every six months for years due to a chronic stomach condition. I missed having any last year due to my back hospitalizations, and so far this year I have not called my gastro doc to schedule one so I am two years overdue. I had kyphoplasty on my back when in the hospital to repair two compressed disks. I was put into a twilight sleep for that procedure. Nothing bad happened except the surgery did not work to ease my back pain, so I would not have one again.

Since this tragedy with JR, I am hesitant to have another endoscopy even though I have always trusted my gastro doc. I have also had two colonoscopies and colon surgery to remove six inches of my colon due to chronic diverticulitis. I must say those procedures went very well. I was put completely under for both, I assume that was propofol, as was the anesthesia given for the endoscopies.

I have also had two laryngoscopies because of RA in my throat. Those were done with a local anesthesia in a doctor's office without even one assistant, just the doc and me. And also two neck surgeries because of lipomas which I seem to be prone to. I was put into twilight sleep for that. One of them was fairly deep and I developed a hematoma that lasted for months. My neck is still discolored because of that.

I do have to schedule an appointment with my gastro doc to discuss all of this before I have another endoscopy. I may be too old for propofol by now also. I know that is what has been used in the past for the endoscopies. After reading what happened to Joan, I feel like one very lucky woman. That is one scary report, and very tragic.

Ford, my goodness, you've been through it all that's for sure. I know you and I are the same age, January birthdays and all, but why do you say you may be too old for propofol now? I had a colonoscopy about four or five months ago and they used it on me, no trouble.

mm Sorry O.T.

my edit

Because from what I am reading, it is being said Joan was too old for propofol. I realize they overdosed her, but I also think even though she was older than me that she was in better health than I am. I truly don't know what to think. I'd probably be fine and I do need the endoscopy, my gastric problems are no better. I guess I'll get together with my daughters and see what they want me to do.

[kdgn]

Ford, I don't know where you are seeing that Joan was too old for propofal or that she was overdosed. From what I have read, they did not weigh her for an accurate weight which is how propofal is administered. Also, the notes from the surgery regarding how much has been admitted to being in error. The nurse entered the wrong amount into the computer, not that Joan received this amount.

This is the latest from TMZ which has been fairly accurate in their reporting:

the legal team believes the Yorkville Endoscopy Center did not have critical lifesaving equipment on the crash cart ... specifically a drug called Succinylcholine, used to relax a patient's trachea. The legal team believes Joan's vocal chords spasmed and closed shut. The drug would have instantly opened them.

And, according to the report, Joan only consented to an upper endoscopy procedure, but Dr. Korovin did more ... a laryngoscopy.

[Marienkaefer2]

I go to a highly respected gastro group in my area. I have had several endoscopies and have never had issues. I realize there are mitigating factors in JR's case, but imo the problem was not with the anaesthesia. It was with the malpractice of the docs using it. They made bad decisions and apparently shouldn't have used what they used. Sadly, and I was surprised to find this was the situation in JR's case, celebrities DON'T always have access to the best, serious, professional doctors. I remember reading about this when Michael Jackson died. Deepak Chopra talked about it a lot. There are fame seekers who just want the association with the celebrity and they don't always do the right thing. They are not always the best doctors. Even JR was a victim of these types of doctors.

[BeckiWV]

Sounds like a lot of errors came together to equal one bad result....

[LilacTree]

On 11/11/2014 kdgn said:

Ford, I don't know where you are seeing that Joan was too old for propofal or that she was overdosed. From what I have read, they did not weigh her for an accurate weight which is how propofal is administered. Also, the notes from the surgery regarding how much has been admitted to being in error. The nurse entered the wrong amount into the computer, not that Joan received this amount.

This is the latest from TMZ which has been fairly accurate in their reporting:

the legal team believes the Yorkville Endoscopy Center did not have critical lifesaving equipment on the crash cart ... specifically a drug called Succinylcholine, used to relax a patient's trachea. The legal team believes Joan's vocal chords spasmed and closed shut. The drug would have instantly opened them.

And, according to the report, Joan only consented to an upper endoscopy procedure, but Dr. Korovin did more ... a laryngoscopy.

I thought I read it here that she was given twice the dose of propofol than she should have received, and also that she was too old. Perhaps I'm mistaken, I may have read it on HuffPost.

Sorry if I posted in error.