Autopsy: Helicopter EMTs killed man

[Guest guest]

Autopsy: Helicopter EMTs killed man

Mistake made on emergency procedure on his throat; death accidental

By Democrat staff

Article Created: 05/01/2008 09:17:27 AM PDT

A procedure by emergency personnel inadvertently caused the death of the

Woodland bus driver who lost control of his vehicle on Highway 16 in

February, according to a coroner's report.

The report, released Tuesday, identifies the cause of death for 48-year-old

Quintin as " asphyxia due to massive blood aspiration, due to incised

injury to the larynx, the upper trachea and surrounding tissues from the

cricothyrotomy, " said Michele Wallace, public information officer for the

Yolo County Sheriff's Department.

, who was thrown out of the driver's side windshield when he lost

control of the vehicle, was initially tended to by American Medical Response

until an air ambulance from California Shock Trauma Air Rescue arrived and

performed the emergency cricothyrotomy, Wallace said. The procedure involves

making an incision in the cricothyroid membrane in the throat to clear the

airway.

For unclear reasons, AMR then took over again and immediately transported

to the hospital by ground ambulance, Wallace said.

did not respond to further resuscitative efforts and was pronounced

dead at 3:44 a.m. on Feb. 25, she said.

The manner of death is classified as an " accident " and the sub-manner as a

" therapeutic misadventure. "

Toxicology reports indicated no unusual substances were in the body related

to the death.

[Guest guest]

The manner of death is classified as an " accident " and the sub-manner as a

" therapeutic misadventure. "

I think the term " accidental therapeutic misadventure " makes it sound quite

reckless. Would like to know more details of the incident, especially why air

performed procedure and then gave back to ground to transport. Did flight crew

ride along?

Red

Autopsy: Helicopter EMTs killed man

Autopsy: Helicopter EMTs killed man

Mistake made on emergency procedure on his throat; death accidental

By Democrat staff

Article Created: 05/01/2008 09:17:27 AM PDT

A procedure by emergency personnel inadvertently caused the death of the

Woodland bus driver who lost control of his vehicle on Highway 16 in

February, according to a coroner's report.

The report, released Tuesday, identifies the cause of death for 48-year-old

Quintin as " asphyxia due to massive blood aspiration, due to incised

injury to the larynx, the upper trachea and surrounding tissues from the

cricothyrotomy, " said Michele Wallace, public information officer for the

Yolo County Sheriff's Department.

, who was thrown out of the driver's side windshield when he lost

control of the vehicle, was initially tended to by American Medical Response

until an air ambulance from California Shock Trauma Air Rescue arrived and

performed the emergency cricothyrotomy, Wallace said. The procedure involves

making an incision in the cricothyroid membrane in the throat to clear the

airway.

For unclear reasons, AMR then took over again and immediately transported

to the hospital by ground ambulance, Wallace said.

did not respond to further resuscitative efforts and was pronounced

dead at 3:44 a.m. on Feb. 25, she said.

The manner of death is classified as an " accident " and the sub-manner as a

" therapeutic misadventure. "

Toxicology reports indicated no unusual substances were in the body related

to the death.