Medical question / paitents rights

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » November 2, 2004, 11:39 am

Ok, for a change, I didn't do it this time.

Quick backstory:
My stepdad fell off of the roof of my house yesterday afternoon onto his back. He refused medical treatment at the time since he didn't feel that bad. Now, this morning rolls around and he can hardly move his left arm or left leg, still refuses medical treatment and won't even entertain the idea of letting paramedics come down and check him out.

As his concerned stepson, what are my options? I'm afraid he's suffered a bad back injury but there's nothing I know that I can do to get him out to a doctor. My mother can't even convince him to go get checked out.. he's a highly stubborn individual.

Halp.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » November 2, 2004, 11:51 am

What is it that you're asking exactly? How to force him to the hospital or what kind of care he can get if he neglets himself or what exactly?

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » November 2, 2004, 11:59 am

More of the 'forcing to teh hospital' line.

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » November 2, 2004, 11:59 am

Explain to him the potential severity of his injury. If he fractured a vertebra he could end up paralyzed. If he still resists, call 911 anyway and explain the situation. It would be far better and cheaper all around if you took him to his primary care physician or the emergency room rather than having the ambulance come out.

Just to clarify, you said he "can hardly move his left leg or left arm". Does that mean he can move them with difficulty or that he can't move them?

Does he have medical insurance? If so what type and what deductibles if any?

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » November 2, 2004, 12:02 pm

Aye, the latter would definitely signify a spinal cord issue, very very serious if not checked

I also agree with calling 911 and explaining the situation. I understand stubborness firsthand. My father had "trouble sleeping" one night about 5 years ago and was in obvious severe pain being doubled over in bed so to speak. He did not want any help and literally refused it until my mother just called 911 after about 6 hours. The paramedic could tell right away that he had a kidney stone. He also told us that most people who get hit with one finally moving, rarely wait 5 minutes before calling a doctor. He went along after that with no difficulty.

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » November 2, 2004, 12:18 pm

He has trouble moving it. Says it's stiffened up and hurts to even move. He can walk around ok, but really slowly and he drags his leg a bit.

Thanks for the tips.

Spankes · Post by **Spankes** » November 2, 2004, 12:43 pm

Doesn't matter what you do. If you call 911 or the hospital or whatever they cannot do anything if they show up and he refuses treatment. They will have him sign a waiver and leave.

All you can do is pester him to go to the hospital.

Seebs · Post by **Seebs** » November 2, 2004, 12:58 pm

If your Step Dad is an adult, which I assume he is, leave him alone, offer to get him food or help him to the bathroom.

He's trying to heal, so quit pestering him.

Better yet, don;t do anything for him, the first time he wets the bed maybe he'll get his head out of his ass and get some treatment.

Tough Love brother.

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » November 2, 2004, 1:00 pm

I'd call his primary physician for advice before calling 911. Having the advice of an authority may help. Or at the very least they can give you advice as to how to help if he still refuses to go in for treatment. Don't waste 911 time if it isn't a real emergency situation.

Morgrym · Post by **Morgrym** » November 2, 2004, 1:19 pm

You can do absolutly nothing unless you or someone else has Power of Attorney over him. Unless he falls unconscious then you have Implied Consent.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » November 2, 2004, 1:23 pm

the best way to get a man to do something is for his wife to make him do it

masteen · Post by **masteen** » November 2, 2004, 1:32 pm

Shoot him in the leg. That should get him to the hospital

Hoarmurath · Post by **Hoarmurath** » November 2, 2004, 1:58 pm

Seebs wrote:Better yet, don;t do anything for him, the first time he wets the bed maybe he'll get his head out of his ass and get some treatment.

This is basically my view, perhaps stated differently, but my meaning would be the same.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » November 2, 2004, 4:21 pm

call oprah.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » November 2, 2004, 4:25 pm

Well....I am going to look a little deeper here. We have to use all available facts.

1) It is West Virginia.

2) It is his step-father.

3) In West Virginia, step-fathers are cousins of their wife.

4) Call your aunt, who woul dbe his legal guardian and have her remand him to the authorities at the hospital.

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » November 2, 2004, 4:52 pm

May you find your wanker lodged inside a tailpipe of a 97 chevy and a man hating feminist at the wheel.

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » November 2, 2004, 5:05 pm

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » November 2, 2004, 5:37 pm

drug him up and take him tot he hospital so he is in no condition to be able to rationally make discisions for himself =-)

Neziroth · Post by **Neziroth** » November 2, 2004, 8:12 pm

May you find your wanker lodged inside a tailpipe of a 97 chevy and a man hating feminist at the wheel.

is this perhaps a preview to "a day in the life of akaran, part 16"?

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » November 2, 2004, 11:20 pm

I'd never bone a chevy.

Karae · Post by **Karae** » November 3, 2004, 6:17 pm

Morgrym wrote:You can do absolutly nothing unless you or someone else has Power of Attorney over him. Unless he falls unconscious then you have Implied Consent.

Are you advising him to knock his father out?!

Lynxe · Post by **Lynxe** » November 4, 2004, 10:42 pm

A couple of years ago a friend of ours named Doug was having severe stomach pains. His parents and friends online tried to convince him to go to a doctor/hospital but he was also too stubborn. He opted instead to take a couple Atasol 30's till it went away.

His parents heard him hit the floor of his bedroom, but he was dead before the ambulance got to his home.

At 24 years old he died, I kid you not, from fucking appendicitis.

We are lucky enough to live in an age where that doesn't have to happen. Tell your stepfather that if something happens to him it doesn’t just effect him, it effects everyone who is close to him and but he owes those people to stop being so selfish and stubborn.

Morgrym · Post by **Morgrym** » November 5, 2004, 6:05 am

Karae wrote:
Morgrym wrote:You can do absolutly nothing unless you or someone else has Power of Attorney over him. Unless he falls unconscious then you have Implied Consent.
Are you advising him to knock his father out?!

Nope, never said that or even hinted at it. Just giving you the facts. By falls unconscious, it means just that...falls unconscious. That is the only legal way to force treatment on someone without a living will or DNR orders.

Mak · Post by **Mak** » November 5, 2004, 6:53 am

You might also want to call your insurance agent and find out what you're liability is on your homeowner's policy should he need expensive medical help, (or he sues you later. Yes, I know he's your father-in-law, but stranger things have happened.)

Rasspotari · Post by **Rasspotari** » November 5, 2004, 7:06 am

sorry that happened to your stepdad akaran , hope you convince him to go to the hospital with you but....

did he vote republican too by any chance ?

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » November 5, 2004, 11:26 am

He didn't vote, never has. Hates politics and is happy with his life as it is.

Followup: He seems to be fine. Never could get him to the docs. He's mobile, has some pretty bad stiffness in the fingers of one hand, but he's dealing.

Thanks guys, will keep this in mind incase it happens again. /sigh

Seebs · Post by **Seebs** » November 5, 2004, 2:34 pm

If he's feeling better, have him update his policies. Sounds like the next time could be lucritive.

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » November 5, 2004, 3:05 pm

hahah