The death of Christopher Reeve

[fpb]

Christopher Reeve died because, 1) he got a pressure wound from sitting in one place, and, 2) it was left uncured long enough to get infected, and infected enough to slip into a coma.

I know one or two things about tetraplegy and its long-term care. I am simply astonished to hear this. Reeve, thanks to his movie career, was a rich man. He was surrounded by his family. He should have been getting top quality care. You do not get pressure sores if you are receiving regular attention, being moved, washed and receiving physiotherapy to keep your limbs from atrophying. This simply should not have happened. Pressure sores are a sure sign of bad or nonexistent care, the symptom of bad hospitals or of poor people allowed to die by incompetent carers. Something is very wrong about this story.

Comments

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

Do you think it's possible that the pressure wound was somewhere not noticeable?

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Well, they say that it started out being very small and harmless-looking, and of course infection is a most unpredictable thing. Even so, I still find the story strange. As for somewhere not noticeable, one of the most unpleasant aspects of tetraplegy is that your assistants have to be familiar with all your body, including the most unattractive orifices (if you know what I mean).

[rfachir.livejournal.com]

Spending the money on top quality care doesn't mean you'll accept it. In my family we have both medical professionals and totally untrained caregivers, and scary things abound. As my sister the doctor says, "We can only suggest what people should do - we can't make them." Doctors and nurses give instructions, but the family ignores them with regularity, with love in their hearts ("The doctor said drink would kill him, but look - he just asked for one. It's his birthday. He's so much happier.") And don't get me started on the engineers who work out the medication ratios and argue treatment like they're working on an engine ("For 20 years she's been taking 20mg/day, and now they want 200? That's obviously a mistake!")

Reeve wasn't a healthy man, and things go sour fast. I think it's a safe bet that he actively assisted in the "neglect", telling folks to leave him alone or giving authority to someone who wasn't equipped to make good choices.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I think you're right. Everything I know about Reeve shows that he had not come to terms with his condition, and, mind you, it is hard to do for a big active man - but I know people who have.