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Hospitalized For Fever, Blinding Headache, Went Into Coma, Came Back Multiple Times After Medication. Clinical Negligence?
I was hospitalised with a fever and blinding headache after being given more medication I went into a coma . I had just restarted taking Fentanyl but started on the highest dose 100mcg, I was given Naloxone to reverse the opiate then the following day given fentanyl again I went into a coma this happened at least four times and the doctors could not pick up what was happening to me. This has left me traumatised and afraid to sleep my family eventually rescued me and had me discharged with the hospital wanting me to be sectioned for what they thought was my own safety. After being discharged the symptoms of going into a coma disappeared, do you think I have cause to complain about my treatment? as far as I am concerned it was clinical negligence on their behalf.
Tue, 30 Jul 2013
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
It is very difficult to come to a conclusion without listening to both sides. If you have been provided with a discharge summary, please upload that. This would enable us to figure out the reasons for giving Fentanyl.
If there was no indication, then it could be a case of negligence.
Please get back if you require any additional information.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology)
Senior Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad,
My personal URL on this website: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My email: drsudhirkumar@yahoo.com
My blog: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.com/
Thank you for posting your query.
It is very difficult to come to a conclusion without listening to both sides. If you have been provided with a discharge summary, please upload that. This would enable us to figure out the reasons for giving Fentanyl.
If there was no indication, then it could be a case of negligence.
Please get back if you require any additional information.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology)
Senior Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad,
My personal URL on this website: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My email: drsudhirkumar@yahoo.com
My blog: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.com/
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User's Response
Dr. Balaji Bharadwaj,
Psychiatrist's Response
Psychiatrist's Response
From your query I understand that you had started taking Fentanyl by yourself after having quit it for a long time. Taking a high dose after having quit it can lead to symptoms of overdose such as coma and death.
Naloxone is the drug of choice to reverse the coma.
Being short acting, it does act for a few hours (1 to 3 hours) before the patient slips back into coma. It is then time for the next dose to be given. This has to be repeated until the fentanyl gets washed out of your system over the next few days.
Naloxone is the drug of choice to reverse the coma.
Being short acting, it does act for a few hours (1 to 3 hours) before the patient slips back into coma. It is then time for the next dose to be given. This has to be repeated until the fentanyl gets washed out of your system over the next few days.
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