But before we go there, I'm going to tell you why Reeve died.
1) The pressure sore that started the cascade of ultimately lethal events should not have happened.
By definition, a pressure sore = poor patient care.
This was pounded into my head during my internship at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center by Dr. Margaret McCarron, chief of the hospital's Jail Ward - yes, it was a locked ward, taking up one entire floor of the hospital, staffed by doctors, nurses, and sheriff's deputies who checked their guns at the elevator.
All patients were prisoners, some shackled to their beds, others not.
Dr. McCarron, a great teacher and clinician who's probably been dead for years, was adamant about making sure every patient on her ward was treated with the care and respect the most famous and important patient might receive.
To that end, she made it clear to us interns, just weeks out of medical school - was I ever that young and naive and innocent? But I digress - that we were responsible if one of our patients, however sick he or she might be, developed a bedsore.
Because it was incumbent upon us, if we had a patient who was bedridden, to turn that patient onto his or her side every day when we made rounds to check for skin breakdown.
So it is inconceivable to me that "the extraordinarily good, state-of-the-art care" Reeve was receiving should have led to this end.
2) Reeve had no business being treated for sepsis at home. What ridiculous hubris, to deal with such a life-threatening condition as if it were some minor ailment.
He belonged in an I.C.U. until he was stable, then in the hospital until he was off I.V. antibiotics.
Now, here's the New York Times article, from this morning's paper.
- With Paralysis, Challenge Goes Beyond Walking
The death of Christopher Reeve illustrated something that those who live with paralysis know all too well: the challenges go far beyond the inability to walk.
"Walking is the least of it," said Donna Messinger, who is 43 and has been paralyzed since an automobile accident in her senior year of college.
Mr. Reeve died of cardiac arrest on Sunday.
He had previously been treated for a severe systemic infection that was, in turn, caused by a pressure wound, the medical term for a bedsore, a common complication for people who are paralyzed.
Mr. Reeve was, in fact, one of the lucky ones.
Though his injuries were among the most severe possible, he also had the resources to get the best treatment.
Article comments
1 - Claire Robinson
An interesting, informative and valued account of both Christopher Reeve, his death, and his injury. I too was greatly saddened at his death. He was doing some great work in an effort to aid people with similiar and/or related conditions.
Thank you for this piece.
Claire
2 - Mac Diva
I agree that the WaPo had the best explanation of Reeve's death. I cited their package about him on my thread about his death. I also made a point of saying that pressure wounds do not normally follow the causal path Reeve's did. I think it important to emphasize that before people latch onto to something inaccurate. In an online chat at the WaPo, a physician who treated Reeve during the early years of his paralysis did what he could to dispel some of the nonsense cropping up, such as there is some kind of "winding down" process for people with SCI. But, considering how people are, no telling what claptrap they will end up believing.
Considering your interest in SCI, I think you would enjoy reading Teddy Pendergrass autobiography, Truly Blessed, which I've reviewed. He does an excellent job of describing living as a quadriplegic. BTW, he had a bout of dysreflexia at the famous Live Aid concert. It was hot and there was no air conditioning. His temperature spiraled, sparking autonomic responses. Fortunately, his aides controlled it by packing bags of ice around him.
(For people not exposed to the subject matter, quadriplegics cannot control their body temperature. They are unable to sweat below the point of injury.)
Of course, with my background, I thought about issues of negligence while reading about Reeve. But, I'm going to withhold judgment until I know more. Reeve had a very powerful personality. He made have made the decision about whether to be hospitalized to care for his pressure wound. Reminds me of Pendergrass, again. He traveled to an awards show while requiring an operation on a pressure wound. So, let's wait and see.
3 - Eric Olsen
Exceptional post Joe, perhaps your best and most important ever - I really appreciate the information beign presented in such a clear and logical manner. Now I'm sadder still about it since it never should have happened
4 - E. John Love
Thank you for writing this detailed and informative description of the medical details and issues surrounding the death of this inspirational person. I have cited your article on my own blog.
Thanks again.
John.
5 - Mac Diva
Typo in previous comment: He may have made the decision about whether to be hospitalized to care for his pressure wound.
I've seen a few other pieces online alleging negligent care, but none of them substantiate the claim, either. Such a case turns on why Reeve was being treated when and where he was. It is possible his doctors approved the home treatment and/or that Reeve refused suggestions he be hospitalized. He spoke to scientists working on SCI research within a week of the day he died. Seems that he was very determined to adhere to his work schedule. Again, I think people should wait and see before assuming Reeve's caregivers were at fault for his death.