marnell

[marnell]

Dear Doctor....
My husband and I lost our daughter, Cheryl on January 12, this year. She was diagnosed with bullous emphysema, asthma and hypoxia.  Her only medication was Spireva.  She was 60 years old and could hardly breathe and was not given a nebulizer or oxygen.  Her doctor refused to sign her death certificate because he hadn't seen her since October.  I plan to turn him in to the American Medical Assn because I feel this was malpractice.  
How would you have treated this patient. Would you have given her oxygen?
June , Cheryl's mother

[season_00]

I would just like to say that I am very very sorry for your lost.

[National Jewish Health]

The loss of your daughter is very sad.  Had she been under our care and found to chronically have a low oxygen level at rest or while asleep she would have been placed on oxygen.  There are national standards that must be met, for a person to be placed on continuous supplemental oxygen.  Arterial blood oxygen is measured and if the oxygen pressure is 55 or less, which is the equivalent of an oxygen saturation in the mid 80% range, or 59 or less with heart failure, it is recommended that oxygen be prescribed.