Could actress Natasha Richardson's death have been prevented if her skiing accident had occurred in America rather than Canada?
Canadian health care de-emphasizes widespread dissemination of technology like CT scanners and quick access to specialists like neurosurgeons. While all the facts of Richardson’s medical care haven’t been released, enough is known to pose questions with profound implications.
Richardson died of an epidural hematoma — a bleeding artery between the skull and brain that compresses and ultimately causes fatal brain damage via pressure buildup. With prompt diagnosis by CT scan, and surgery to drain the blood, most patients survive.
Could Richardson have received this care? Where it happened in Canada, no. In many US resorts, yes.
2 comments:
To say she could not be saved in Canada, but would have been in the US is just plain stupid, no matter where you are if you refuse care as she did, well you don't get treated. It would not matter if a CT machine was 10 minute walk away, if you refuse to go.
the article never said she couldn't be saved, it said it might have been a factor.
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