Missoula explosion victim’s dying wishes not honored

By FuMa, New West Unfiltered 3-28-07

Myself alond with hundreds of others investigated the scene after being jolted by the sound of the explosion. Thankfully took our time walking to the plume of smoke so as not to witness the vicitm who was apparently burnt on 3/4 of his body. This was a tragic event but the rush to help this man oversteped a key boundary. It seems he was refusing care, aware of his fate, but was still evacuated and flown to another state to die. Was this a case of injustice by those who were administering care? I was not there, thankfully and would never want to be in that situation, however, the issue of patient concent seems to have been ignored. [End of article]

Comment By Paramedic, 4-01-07

I am sorry that the information you received in the Missoulian and local news led you to believe that this man was refusing medical care. I WAS involved the care of this patient and I can tell you that although he understood that his injuries were fatal he was by no means begging to die. He was asked for consent and it was explained to him that we were going to do everything possible, he understood and agreed. After he was unable to verbalize the wishes of his family were followed and honored. Unless you were actively involved in the care of this patient please do not judge the decisions made by Paramedics, Emergency Room Staff, Doctors, AND family members involved. This was an emotional day for the entire city, we must stick together and help each other, not pass judgement towards each other.

Comment By FuMa, 4-01-07

Thank you for your reply on this. It was not intended as a personal judment of you as a care giver but rather a response to what I read in the Missoulian...As well as an overall realization about what we can face as a care giver in such a situation......As a paramedic you have chosen to engage these issues very deeply and I have great respect for what you take on in your profession. It is difficult as a human being to accept fate ours or others with out the literal failure of the body to continue living...This applies to a wide range of end of life decisions.

Mainly I had an emotional response to the quote
from the Missoulian...

"The man was coherent enough to give out his wife’s cell phone number, but he pleaded with them to let him die, Stokes said."

The following day it was reported that he had died after being flown away.
The victim seemed to be accepting his own fate and was denied of the peace of dying near to his family and home, according to the Missoulaina article. Thank you for clarifying.

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