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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 5, 2012 at 11:01pm

Zollistar, these allegations, if true, are nothing short of chilling.   May the family's wish to make the tape public be honored so that we can all judge for ourselves what happened that night at Emory University Sleep Center.

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Permalink Reply by ZolliStar on March 5, 2012 at 11:16pm

     Actually, if you read  the man's health condition/situation, his death may not be so surprising. Getting wired up is a stressor that might have affected him.

     That said, wasn't the man being monitored?  Didn't anyone notice the man was in distress? How long was he dead before his passing was noticed?

      This is disturbing, indeed.

Mike said:

Zollistar, these allegations, if true, are nothing short of chilling.   May the family's wish to make the tape public be honored so that we can all judge for ourselves what happened that night at Emory University Sleep Center.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 5, 2012 at 11:27pm

Apparently, this is prompting a bill being brought before the Georgia legislature: GA SB504 The Brandon Harris Act, which would require GA sleep centers to meet certain requirements. If the bill passes, in addition to requirements of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine accreditation criteria, each sleep facility in the state would have to:

(1) Have a licensed sleep specialist or licensed nurse professional on
duty in the facility on a 24 hour basis;
(2) Require continuing education and recertification of sleep
technologists employed by such facility;
(3) Require sleep technologist or polysomnographer training and
certification in basic life-saving techniques including
cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
(4) Provide a defibrillator in each patient room;
(5) Prior to a sleep study, secure emergency contact information from
the patient and in the event a patient experiences indications of
medical distress, the sleep specialist on duty shall be responsible
for immediate contact of the patient's emergency contact; and
(6) Provide a consent form requiring the patient's signature. This
form shall clearly and conspicuously state the potential hazards and
risks involved in undergoing a sleep study.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 5, 2012 at 11:29pm

just found video of the incident.  the guy is clearly waving his hands in distress.  caution, may be tough to watch:

:

FOX MEDICAL TEAM: Sleep Study Death: MyFoxATLANTA.com

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 5, 2012 at 11:33pm

guaranteed the American Academy of Sleep Medicine -- the AASM -- and the Sleep Center industry oppose passage of this bill.   

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Permalink Reply by ZolliStar on March 5, 2012 at 11:37pm

     Thanks for finding this Fox video, Mike.

     What was interesting is the fact that the patient was asked to sleep on his back. It seems to me that I was asked to lie on my back, at least in the beginning. I think we all know that's a problem for those of us with OSA, one reason so many of us (my hand is raised) are side sleepers.

     Also, I'm gratified to know that the tech did notice the distress and did go in to help the man. Alas, his overall health condition, including his heart condition, might have been just too serious for him to be able to survive the stress of the sleep study.

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Permalink Reply by ZolliStar on March 5, 2012 at 11:45pm

     Actually, given the thousands upon thousands of people who have had a sleep study at Emory, it's probably inevitable the someone would have a serious problem. I'm not sure that all the regulations (if they were already in place) would have helped this man (having watched/listened to the video you uncovered).

      There is always the notion that we can legislate away all risk. We can't; there will always be something else that wasn't considered or something that applied in a particular situation that is completely atypical and wholly unforeseen.

      Watch for this unintended consequence: Sleep clinics may refuse to do studies for people with health problems -- the very problems that are caused by sleep apnea. These are people whose lives really are at risk and who really do need to get on CPAP therapy.

Mike said:

guaranteed the American Academy of Sleep Medicine -- the AASM -- and the Sleep Center industry oppose passage of this bill.   Wait for it.  . .

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 5, 2012 at 11:52pm

i agree that regulation is not always the answer.  but with the possible exception of having a defibrillator in each patient room, are the regulations being proposed here really that onerous/ unreasonable? 

ZolliStar said:

     Actually, given the thousands upon thousands of people who have had a sleep study at Emory, it's probably inevitable the someone would have a serious problem. I'm not sure that all the regulations (if they were already in place) would have helped this man (having watched/listened to the video you uncovered).

      There is always the notion that we can legislate away all risk. We can't; there will always be something else that wasn't considered or something that applied in a particular situation that is completely atypical and wholly unforeseen.

      Watch for this unintended consequence: Sleep clinics may refuse to do studies for people with health problems -- the very problems that are caused by sleep apnea. These are people whose lives really are at risk and really do need to get on CPAP therapy.

Mike said:

guaranteed the American Academy of Sleep Medicine -- the AASM -- and the Sleep Center industry oppose passage of this bill.   Wait for it.  . .

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Permalink Reply by 99 on March 6, 2012 at 12:01am

doctors say not me sir

it is attitude from the top down to accept responsibility

let us see how it plays out

archive this video mike for a permanent record of events

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Permalink Reply by ZolliStar on March 6, 2012 at 12:59am

Note the first item: "Have a licensed sleep specialist or licensed nurse professional on
duty in the facility on a 24 hour basis."  Expensive. Given all the tens of thousands of studies that have been done already, how really necessary?

Mike said:

i agree that regulation is not always the answer.  but with the possible exception of having a defibrillator in each patient room, are the regulations being proposed here really that onerous/ unreasonable? 

ZolliStar said:

     Actually, given the thousands upon thousands of people who have had a sleep study at Emory, it's probably inevitable the someone would have a serious problem. I'm not sure that all the regulations (if they were already in place) would have helped this man (having watched/listened to the video you uncovered).

      There is always the notion that we can legislate away all risk. We can't; there will always be something else that wasn't considered or something that applied in a particular situation that is completely atypical and wholly unforeseen.

      Watch for this unintended consequence: Sleep clinics may refuse to do studies for people with health problems -- the very problems that are caused by sleep apnea. These are people whose lives really are at risk and really do need to get on CPAP therapy.

Mike said:

guaranteed the American Academy of Sleep Medicine -- the AASM -- and the Sleep Center industry oppose passage of this bill.   Wait for it.  . .

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Permalink Reply by Enrique Gomez on March 6, 2012 at 10:29am

ZS,

Thanks for that link... totally unacceptable and negligent! Prayers for Brandon's family and loved ones in Georgia.

e.g.

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Permalink Reply by Kate on March 6, 2012 at 10:32am

The father said his son was waving his hands in a plea for help. The father also said his son collapsed on the floor. The father also said those techs ignored him there on the floor and walked around him like a dog! If what that father is saying is true, this was murder!

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