Do you think the Hospital was at Fault?

[Austin Tripper]

on the ABC Tribute.. it sorta felt and sounded like.. John was there 35 minutes after being sick.

but he was just laying there until 10:00 pm before they operated on him???

when did he exactly go into the hospital?

I dont know it seems like he was just AT the hospital.. but didn't figure out his problem?

[Big3sCompanyFan]

I read a post on the AOL Ritter message boards about a guy who was in Germany with his did and his dad's aorta ACTUALLY EXPLODED BUT IN GERMANY THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE HIM!!

THE GERMAN DOCTORS WERE ABLE TO SAVE HIM SINCE THEY COOLED DOWN TO BODY TO A LOW ENOUGH TEMPERATURE WHERE HIS METABOLIC RATE SLOWED ENOUGH TO MAKE HIM LIVE LONGER. It seems this guy died 3 separate times on the table but they brought him back and saved him!!

THE POSTER ACTUALLY SAID AMERICAN DOCTORS DON'T KNOW HOW TO TREAT THIS CONDITION!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?? I THOUGHT AMERICA HAD THE BEST DOCTORS BUT I GUESS NOT!!

I THINK THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT IF JOHN WERE TREATED IN GERMANY HE WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY!!

So, yes I think there is definitely a chance that this Burbank hospital where John was treated at did not do the best they could or maybe even were inappropriate or negligent.

Did you notice in that ABC special they never even interviewed anyone at the hospital where John died but they interviewed some guy in NY?

The Burbank hospital might've been too cowardly or apprehensive to talk to cameras since they know they didn't do things as good as the could've.

I THINK AMY YASBECK HAS DO TO A FULL INVESTIGATION AND TAKE LEGAL AGAINST THE HOSPITAL IF NECESSARY!!

[LILFACE23]

Originally posted by Big3sCompanyFan
I read a post on the AOL Ritter message boards about a guy who was in Germany with his did and his dad's aorta ACTUALLY EXPLODED BUT IN GERMANY THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE HIM!!

THE GERMAN DOCTORS WERE ABLE TO SAVE HIM SINCE THEY COOLED DOWN TO BODY TO A LOW ENOUGH TEMPERATURE WHERE HIS METABOLIC RATE SLOWED ENOUGH TO MAKE HIM LIVE LONGER. It seems this guy died 3 separate times on the table but they brought him back and saved him!!

THE POSTER ACTUALLY SAID AMERICAN DOCTORS DON'T KNOW HOW TO TREAT THIS CONDITION!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?? I THOUGHT AMERICA HAD THE BEST DOCTORS BUT I GUESS NOT!!

I THINK THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT IF JOHN WERE TREATED IN GERMANY HE WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY!!

So, yes I think there is definitely a chance that this Burbank hospital where John was treated at did not do the best they could or maybe even were inappropriate or negligent.

Did you notice in that ABC special they never even interviewed anyone at the hospital where John died but they interviewed some guy in NY?

The Burbank hospital might've been too cowardly or apprehensive to talk to cameras since they know they didn't do things as good as the could've.

I THINK AMY YASBECK HAS DO TO A FULL INVESTIGATION AND TAKE LEGAL AGAINST THE HOSPITAL IF NECESSARY!!

I COMPLETELY AGREE. I THOUGHT THE SAME THING. ESPECIALLY DURING THE INTERVIEW ON ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, THEY SAID THE DOCTORS WOULDN'T COMMENT. I SERIOUSLY THINK THEY WAITING TOO LONG AND THEY COULD'VE SAVED HIM IF THEY WERE PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAIL. IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT MISTAKE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

[jayman75]

My father is currently in a hospital waiting for a transplant. I think I can give a better opinion of this than many, because of all the procedures and such he's gone through.

Sure, the procedures of the hospital might want to be reviewed. But, you don't just "jump in" and cut someone. I mean, think about it. That would constitute open-heart surgery. That's not a walk in the park. There were other factors, I'm sure, that made them evaluate what they were doing. Obviously, there are possiblities to things (the Bee Gees brother that died earlier in the year is still being investigated) that might want an examination. But, that's not our decision. That's a family decision.

Plus, don't compare the dissection of the aorta to an aorta that's exploded. They are two different things. There are different doctors all over the world. Who knows what was available at the hospital when he went in.

Big3s, you seem pretty bitter about all of this. It's a shame. I don't think you you understand the rules about medical confidentiality. The doctors can give statements if allowed by the family. The interview aired on Tuesday -- that was 4 days after his death. Do you think that maybe they weren't able to include information/quotes from every possible person he'd met?? Plus, it was a tribute to his life... not a questionning of his death.

Stop trying to stir up trouble and get people more emotional. It's ridiculous how your words have such a negative feel. If you thought so much of John Ritter, you wouldn't be talking the way you are.

J

PS -- So, you're suggesting that when he collapsed they would hop on a plane and fly him to Germany? I'm sure he would have lived through the flight. Yeah, that makes total sense.

[nightc1]

I THINK THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT IF JOHN WERE TREATED IN GERMANY HE WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY!!

That dude in Germany died three times on the opperating table and they were very lucky to detect the problem let alone plan and perform the surgery fast enough. Maybe they already knew that guy was going to eventually have this problem? But whatever the case some dude telling the story of how his father was saved doesn't really say a thing. I can tell you stories all I want... are you going to believe them?

Just leave well enough alone. If there is some conspiracy... the family will find out. It's none of our business really to judge any doctor whom none of us know nor know the quality of care that Mr. Ritter was given. I'm sure it took a while to diagnose the problem. If you watched the ABC special they even said that stuff like this can happen slowly.. or quickly.. it can burst.. or rupture.. and so on. This isn't a simple procedure to fix the problem either.

It's very sad John Ritter died. I'm sad about it. But let's leave the conspiracy theories for people who get there information not on a bulletinboard on the internet. Yes it's hard to believe he's dead... but this wasn't just some stupid medical mistake it seems.

[Sean Snow]

I don't think they waited until 10pm to operate on him...it seems like he died during the middle of the surgery, and I'd imagine that the surgery would take awhile to perform successfully.

I personally don't think they're at fault. From what I've gathered, it's very hard to diagnose and hard to operate on.

[nantucket_wings]

I dont believe its the hospitals fault either in a recent article that I read just today it mentioned that the OR doctors worked 4 hrs straight to save Johns life

[Big3sCompanyFan]

Originally posted by jayman75
My father is currently in a hospital waiting for a transplant. I think I can give a better opinion of this than many, because of all the procedures and such he's gone through.

Sure, the procedures of the hospital might want to be reviewed. But, you don't just "jump in" and cut someone. I mean, think about it. That would constitute open-heart surgery. That's not a walk in the park. There were other factors, I'm sure, that made them evaluate what they were doing. Obviously, there are possiblities to things (the Bee Gees brother that died earlier in the year is still being investigated) that might want an examination. But, that's not our decision. That's a family decision.

Plus, don't compare the dissection of the aorta to an aorta that's exploded. They are two different things. There are different doctors all over the world. Who knows what was available at the hospital when he went in.

Big3s, you seem pretty bitter about all of this. It's a shame. I don't think you you understand the rules about medical confidentiality. The doctors can give statements if allowed by the family. The interview aired on Tuesday -- that was 4 days after his death. Do you think that maybe they weren't able to include information/quotes from every possible person he'd met?? Plus, it was a tribute to his life... not a questionning of his death.

Stop trying to stir up trouble and get people more emotional. It's ridiculous how your words have such a negative feel. If you thought so much of John Ritter, you wouldn't be talking the way you are.

J

PS -- So, you're suggesting that when he collapsed they would hop on a plane and fly him to Germany? I'm sure he would have lived through the flight. Yeah, that makes total sense.

Look, jayman, the guy in Germany who died DID HAVE AN AORTIC DISSECTION!! Otherwise I wouldn't mention it!! You claim to be knowledgeable!! Well if you are knowledgeable then you would know that the buildup of blood caused by an aortic dissection can cause the aorta to explode!!! DUHHHHH!!

And obviously you wouldn't fly him to Germany, dipwad!! I meant if he were actually in Germany and this happened to him then MAYBE he could have been saved.

I still think a full investigation should be conducted into the hospital where Ritter died because no one should have to die that young.

[nightc1]

Originally posted by Big3sCompanyFan
Look, jayman, the guy in Germany who died DID HAVE AN AORTIC DISSECTION!! Otherwise I wouldn't mention it!! You claim to be knowledgeable!! Well if you are knowledgeable then you would know that the buildup of blood caused by an aortic dissection can cause the aorta to explode!!! DUHHHHH!!

No offense but I don't think you have a clue about the different types of aortic dissections, how the are diagnosed, nor can you say with any reasonable certainty (if you were knowledgable or become knowledgable) that these two men even had the same type of aortic dissection.

A bursted aoritic dissection is a million times easier to diagnose than a leaking dissection. The symptoms are similar to many other things.

But rather than just sound like someone whose ranting to rant... I'll put my best effort forward to lead you to a few documents you should read as well as a link to a vast array of more information on the subject.

First though, I want to say... I am very saddened by Mr. Ritter's death as much as anyone. However, as much as I am saddened, I'm not going to try to make some conspiracy theory based on misinformation.

Ok.. that's out of the way now onto some facts and figures and links. I'm not an ass... I try my best to help people out though and at times it looks that way. So ignor me and just pay attention to the info.

The DeBakey classification divides the dissections into 3 types.



Type I involves the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta.


Type II is confined to the ascending aorta.


Type III is confined to the descending aorta distal to the left subclavian artery.


Type III dissections are further divided into IIIa and IIIb.


Type IIIa refers to dissections that originate distal to the left subclavian artery but extend both proximally and distally, most above the diaphragm.


Type IIIb refers to dissections that originate distal to the left subclavian artery, extend only distally and may extend below the diaphragm.
Thoracic aortic dissections should be distinguished from aneurysms (localized abnormal dilation of the aorta) and transections, which are caused most commonly by high-energy trauma.

There are so many types... which one did John Ritter have.. and which one did this mysterious German man have? Was the german man's caused by a trauma such as a car accident where his chest hit the steering wheel? What caused it? Was John's infact something that he had from birth... something hereditary?

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Aortic dissection is life-threatening. The likelihood of death within the first 48 hours is 1% per hour for untreated patients. The disorder is curable with surgical repair if it is performed before aortic rupture. Less than half of patients with ruptured aorta survive.

So mortality rate issn't good when it goes undiagnosed. At what time of day and which day did John start having problems? He's dead so we can't ask him... but I'm sure he had signs before going to work on the 11th. It's very possible it has already been 24 hours (thus about 24 less percent a chance he'd survived) since it happened. It's also very possible for it to happen before he felt any real signs.

The fact that the German man survived is amazing considering less than 1/2 of the people with a ruptured aorta survive. Did John's rupture? IF so we're talking less than a 50% chance of surviving if diagnosed fast enough.

An aortic dissection that does't stop tearing will ultimately become a fatal rupture. In fact, there is an 80-90 percent fatality rate associated with acute aortic dissection originating near the heart without urgent surgical intervention by an experienced physician. This makes it essential to evaluate symptoms that could be related to a dissection even when there is a 90-95 percent chance that the patient does not have an aortic dissection. Even a five percent risk of a missed dissection results in a substantial number of deaths.

It seems John didn't have much of a chance even if he was in Germany it's doubtful they could even diagnose the problem.



Information Sources:

MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia: Aortic dissection

eMedicine - Dissection, Aortic : Article by John Wiesenfarth, MD ...

National Marfan Foundation: Emergency Diagnosis and Treatment of ...


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q="aortic+dissection"

It seems to me based on what I've read at these medical sites... that there's no obvious reason to believe the hospital did anything wrong. It's sad. Everyone would feel better being mad at the doctors and blaming them. But to use misinformation to do it is just wrong.

[jayman75]

Originally posted by Big3sCompanyFan
Look, jayman, the guy in Germany who died DID HAVE AN AORTIC DISSECTION!! Otherwise I wouldn't mention it!! You claim to be knowledgeable!! Well if you are knowledgeable then you would know that the buildup of blood caused by an aortic dissection can cause the aorta to explode!!! DUHHHHH!!

And obviously you wouldn't fly him to Germany, dipwad!! I meant if he were actually in Germany and this happened to him then MAYBE he could have been saved.

I still think a full investigation should be conducted into the hospital where Ritter died because no one should have to die that young.

If you reread my post, "dipwad," you'll notice I said "Plus, don't compare the dissection of the aorta to an aorta that's exploded. They are two different things." And you say above that one can cause the other -- obviously NOT the same things. So, I'll accept your apology.

Secondly, you can't compare one person's condition to another. You obviously aren't a doctor, so I don't put much stock into what you have to say.

I think you've been rude and overly judgemental about the events of last week. You weren't there -- you don't know the story. Take your emotions and hang them out on the line -- don't air your dirty laundry in here.