Comments on: A trauma patient exceeds the weight limit for a Medflight http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: helphttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html#comment-113811 help Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:00:33 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/03/a-trauma-patient-exceeds-the-weight-limit-for-a-medflight.html#comment-113811 i was wondering if you have to be a certain weight limit for a female who wants to be in medflight? i was wondering if you have to be a certain weight limit for a female who wants to be in medflight?

]]> By: Couzhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html#comment-72925 Couz Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:43:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/03/a-trauma-patient-exceeds-the-weight-limit-for-a-medflight.html#comment-72925 Why should the patient's right to be 400lbs be allowed to endanger the safety and lives of those on board the helicopter? Why should the patient’s right to be 400lbs be allowed to endanger the safety and lives of those on board the helicopter?

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html#comment-72924 Anonymous Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:57:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/03/a-trauma-patient-exceeds-the-weight-limit-for-a-medflight.html#comment-72924 " If the pilots of this service aren't comfortable carrying more than 300lbs, then they shouldn't have to put those lives in danger against their better judgment just because some instruction manual tells them it's ok."<br/><br/>True, but again, NONE OF US HAVE ANY CLUE about what the pilots thought or what the aircraft COULD carry or how much weight it WAS carrying.<br/><br/>But by all means, continue your rants against this family based on a complete lack of knowledge.<br/><br/><br/>And Anon 2:17, you're what's wrong with medicine today. ” If the pilots of this service aren’t comfortable carrying more than 300lbs, then they shouldn’t have to put those lives in danger against their better judgment just because some instruction manual tells them it’s ok.”

True, but again, NONE OF US HAVE ANY CLUE about what the pilots thought or what the aircraft COULD carry or how much weight it WAS carrying.

But by all means, continue your rants against this family based on a complete lack of knowledge.

And Anon 2:17, you’re what’s wrong with medicine today.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html#comment-72922 Anonymous Fri, 16 Mar 2007 07:17:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/03/a-trauma-patient-exceeds-the-weight-limit-for-a-medflight.html#comment-72922 I'm a radiologist and I see where this is going. Many of our instruments (CT, MR, nuclear and PET cameras, fluoro tables, stereotactic biopsy tables, etc.) have weight limits set by the manufacturer. These are typically in the range of 350-450 pounds, so we are only talking about whales who are three or four standard deviations above normal weight. <br/><br/><br/>Like every other imaging center I know, we have a very strict policy: If you are even one pound over the placarded weight limit, then tough shit, you don't get on our scanner. If it breaks while you are on it, not only does it void our service contract, but it impedes important care for every other patient.<br/><br/><br/>If this case sets a precedent, every dirty filthy greedy legal pirate in town is going to be after us next. That is, when they are not suing us for excessive use of CT scans that "obviously" caused their patient's cancer, never mind the 80 pack-year smoking history. I’m a radiologist and I see where this is going. Many of our instruments (CT, MR, nuclear and PET cameras, fluoro tables, stereotactic biopsy tables, etc.) have weight limits set by the manufacturer. These are typically in the range of 350-450 pounds, so we are only talking about whales who are three or four standard deviations above normal weight.

Like every other imaging center I know, we have a very strict policy: If you are even one pound over the placarded weight limit, then tough shit, you don’t get on our scanner. If it breaks while you are on it, not only does it void our service contract, but it impedes important care for every other patient.

If this case sets a precedent, every dirty filthy greedy legal pirate in town is going to be after us next. That is, when they are not suing us for excessive use of CT scans that “obviously” caused their patient’s cancer, never mind the 80 pack-year smoking history.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html#comment-72921 Anonymous Fri, 16 Mar 2007 06:49:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/03/a-trauma-patient-exceeds-the-weight-limit-for-a-medflight.html#comment-72921 Sorry, my mistake. <br/><br/>I'm surprised they aren't suing the auto manufacturer for not having long enough seat belts. I don't think they stretch out that far, do they? Sorry, my mistake.

I’m surprised they aren’t suing the auto manufacturer for not having long enough seat belts. I don’t think they stretch out that far, do they?

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html#comment-72920 Anonymous Fri, 16 Mar 2007 05:14:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/03/a-trauma-patient-exceeds-the-weight-limit-for-a-medflight.html#comment-72920 11:32,<br/><br/>Read the article. It says 394 lbs. What does it matter anyway? After 300 lbs what the heck does it matter? 11:32,

Read the article. It says 394 lbs. What does it matter anyway? After 300 lbs what the heck does it matter?

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html#comment-72919 Anonymous Fri, 16 Mar 2007 04:32:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/03/a-trauma-patient-exceeds-the-weight-limit-for-a-medflight.html#comment-72919 It's amazing that in just the short time this post has been up, the patient has went from 300lbs. to 400lbs. That is one fast significant weight gain. It’s amazing that in just the short time this post has been up, the patient has went from 300lbs. to 400lbs. That is one fast significant weight gain.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html#comment-72918 Anonymous Fri, 16 Mar 2007 04:13:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/03/a-trauma-patient-exceeds-the-weight-limit-for-a-medflight.html#comment-72918 <i>im no expert but on helicopters but..."</i><br/>-Anon 1:34 - yes apparently not<br/><br/>As a pilot, I can tell you nothing is a sure thing once youre in the air. Yes maybe they could have taken off with this patient, but every aspect of flying the aircraft is more difficult with an increased load. It's harder to maneuver and land especially in wind since you have less lifting power to respond to these situations. The pilot is responsible for his life as well as the lives of the crew. If the pilots of this service aren't comfortable carrying more than 300lbs, then they shouldn't have to put those lives in danger against their better judgment just because some instruction manual tells them it's ok. im no expert but on helicopters but…”
-Anon 1:34 – yes apparently not

As a pilot, I can tell you nothing is a sure thing once youre in the air. Yes maybe they could have taken off with this patient, but every aspect of flying the aircraft is more difficult with an increased load. It’s harder to maneuver and land especially in wind since you have less lifting power to respond to these situations. The pilot is responsible for his life as well as the lives of the crew. If the pilots of this service aren’t comfortable carrying more than 300lbs, then they shouldn’t have to put those lives in danger against their better judgment just because some instruction manual tells them it’s ok.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html#comment-72916 Anonymous Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:27:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/03/a-trauma-patient-exceeds-the-weight-limit-for-a-medflight.html#comment-72916 The standards are going to be based on the required envelope of safety required for takeoff, the expected range of the mission and the maximum weights of aircrew necessary for the mission. A standard has to account for the variables in all of these. It has to account for maximum weights for aircrew, maximum weights of fuel, maximum range of mission, maximum headwind, sufficient fuel for return mission and safety reserve, maximum air temperaures at takeoff, maximum equipment load and finally, weight of the patient. And as another poster noted, the size of a patient has to be considered also. Big fat patients don't leave much room to work in a helicopter cabin. You go with the aircraft you have not with one you fantasize about, and "surely" you can't necessarily safely handle a 400-pound patient aboard a small helicopter. That size of person wouldn't even fit easily through the door of a full-size airliner on their own feet.<br/><br/>And that fool of a lawyer thinks the laws of physics are settled at litigation. The standards are going to be based on the required envelope of safety required for takeoff, the expected range of the mission and the maximum weights of aircrew necessary for the mission. A standard has to account for the variables in all of these. It has to account for maximum weights for aircrew, maximum weights of fuel, maximum range of mission, maximum headwind, sufficient fuel for return mission and safety reserve, maximum air temperaures at takeoff, maximum equipment load and finally, weight of the patient. And as another poster noted, the size of a patient has to be considered also. Big fat patients don’t leave much room to work in a helicopter cabin. You go with the aircraft you have not with one you fantasize about, and “surely” you can’t necessarily safely handle a 400-pound patient aboard a small helicopter. That size of person wouldn’t even fit easily through the door of a full-size airliner on their own feet.

And that fool of a lawyer thinks the laws of physics are settled at litigation.

]]> By: N=1http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/03/trauma-patient-exceeds-weight-limit-for.html#comment-72915 N=1 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:11:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/03/a-trauma-patient-exceeds-the-weight-limit-for-a-medflight.html#comment-72915 It would be interesting to read the transcript of the first responder to the EMS or flight dispatcher describing the patient and the specific request for transport.<br/><br/>In my (rusty) experience, flight dispatchers always asked for the patient's estimated weight prior to accepting a flight.<br/><br/>Given the current propensity for patients to be morbidly obese, I can't fathom that the same policy wouldn't be in play.<br/><br/>Alas, lesson never learned with traumas (AKA stupid people syndrome) - wear a seatbelt/helmet. It would be interesting to read the transcript of the first responder to the EMS or flight dispatcher describing the patient and the specific request for transport.

In my (rusty) experience, flight dispatchers always asked for the patient’s estimated weight prior to accepting a flight.

Given the current propensity for patients to be morbidly obese, I can’t fathom that the same policy wouldn’t be in play.

Alas, lesson never learned with traumas (AKA stupid people syndrome) – wear a seatbelt/helmet.

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