Doctor recounts the moment he treated a patient in anaphylactic shock and was assaulted

Doctor - Photo 1.

Doctors at Thanh Ba District Medical Center give emergency treatment to a patient who suffered anaphylactic shock after receiving an antibiotic injection - Photo: cut from clip

Speaking with Tuoi Tre Online at noon on April 28 , Dr. Cao Viet Hung, deputy director of Thanh Ba District Medical Center ( Phu Tho ), said the incident happened at the center's surgical department on the afternoon of April 25.

According to Dr. Hung, the 12-year-old boy who had a traffic accident was brought to the center by his parents and relatives with a headache, dizziness, nausea, swelling, bruising, and bleeding on his forehead, limbs, etc.

Brain CT scan showed that the child had a cerebral hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, epidural emphysema in the right frontal lobe... The patient was prescribed painkillers, tetanus antitoxin injection, and antibiotics.

Doctor kicked in the stomach while treating patient in anaphylactic shock

However, when the nurse was injecting 1/3 of the syringe (7ml/20ml of antibiotic), she discovered that the boy had signs of anaphylactic shock, difficulty breathing, rapid pulse, low blood pressure and fell into a state of circulatory arrest.

Immediately, doctors performed emergency care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to save the child's life according to the Ministry of Health 's anaphylactic shock emergency protocol.

While the doctors were trying to perform CPR and give first aid to the child, the family members stood around the hospital bed, continuously screaming, using insulting words, cursing, causing difficulties and obstructing the doctors and nurses.

Doctor Hung said that although the doctors asked the patient's family to leave so they could focus on treating the patient, the family did not listen and continuously used insulting, threatening, and obstructive words.

"During an emergency like this, the doctors should have been able to focus on treating the patient because while performing CPR and getting medicine for injection, the family members hindered them with verbal and physical attacks.

Even when the male nurse went out to get medical equipment to provide emergency care, he was kicked in the stomach by a family member. Holding his stomach in pain for 3-4 seconds, the male nurse had to endure the pain and run to get supplies to provide emergency care for the patient," Dr. Hung shared.

Regarding the question of why a family member was left in the patient's room, Dr. Hung said the situation happened in a normal patient's room, not in a separate emergency unit like an intensive care unit.

"While being injected, the patient went into anaphylactic shock, meaning the situation was very urgent and needed to be treated quickly within the first 5 minutes, otherwise the risk of the patient becoming seriously ill and dying was very high. Therefore, we treated the patient on the spot and could not take him to the isolation room," said Dr. Hung.

According to Dr. Hung, after about 3 minutes of emergency treatment, the boy's heart started beating again. 5 minutes later, the patient was awake, could be called and asked, and his blood pressure was stable. After 20 minutes, the patient was awake, breathing oxygen through glasses, and could communicate normally.

The family later explained that it was because they were "too upset and couldn't control themselves".

"We understand the family's feelings in that situation. However, we work professionally, saving lives, so we only hope that the patient's family will create conditions for doctors and nurses to work smoothly and wholeheartedly to save the patient. We should not let our emotional agitation cause our loved ones to lose the opportunity for treatment.

Doctors and nurses are also hurt when they are beaten, they have to endure the pain to save the patient's life and cannot leave the patient without treatment. Although the regulations say that medical facilities can refuse treatment when obstructed, the conscience of a doctor does not allow him to do so," Dr. Hung shared.

Doctor Hung said that after the incident, the center asked the emergency team to report the situation in detail. The male nurse who was punched and kicked in the stomach by the patient's family was taken for an ultrasound, X-ray, and examination.

"The unit has reported to the Town Police and the Internal Political Security Department of the Provincial Police to grasp, verify and clarify the incident," said Dr. Hung.

"At the hospital, all patient conditions and medications are recorded in the medical records, and the hospital's cameras are always active, recording images. Whoever makes a mistake must take responsibility. Family members need to stay alert and calm so that the doctors can focus on treating the patient," Dr. Hung added.