John Ritter's doctors found...

[Karlynn]

not negligent.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23635578/

Defense testimony apparently showed that he would have died regardless of whether they had dx'd the dissection with the x-ray - which was ordered and not done.

The other interesting fact is that 2 years before his death a radiologist advised Ritter to consult with a doctor because he found 3 of his coronary arteries with significant calcification and he did not seek help. That didn't cause his death, but I'm wondering if he had sought help if they would have discovered an enlarged aorta as well.

 

[steveinswmi]

my brother died from the same thing dec 15 2006.he had sky high blood pressure for a couple years prior and had been hospitalized for being dizzy.he couldnt even walk without getting sick and was like that for about a week.that was about 1 year before he died.
there never was a solid diagnosis of the dizzy spell.
i was the last to see him in the hospital before surgery at loyola in chicago.
all the talk about john ritter lately has him on my mind a lot more lately.
i think his family needs to understand that these things happen.if they save him they are heros but if he dies it there fault?

i sure miss my brother kenny.he was my best friend also.

steve

 

[kchristian]

It Happens

It Happens

Losing a loved one that way is very difficult. My heart goes out to the Ritter family. The blame game is popular now (particularly in California) but I am glad to hear that the medical team has been vindicated in this case. Ultimately you and I pay the price regardless.

My mother died in 1981 of the same thing. She had her bicuspid aortic valve replaced in 1977 with a pig valve and recovered well. In 1981 she had been to her cardiologist who told her everything was fine just 1 month prior to her feeling really run down for about 2 weeks and then going to the hospital as an emergency. At the first hospital they diagnosed kidney infection but since she was a past cardio patient & had military insurance they transferred her to Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego where they immediately discovered a ascending aorta aneurysm that required immediate surgery. No one from the family was able to be there when she went into surgery that time (not enough time to get there). We were told that a chaplin comforted her. The surgery was a success. They replaced the valve (again) and repaired the aorta. She recovered well for about 3 days and then went down hill from there. She had dissection of the circulatory system and did not fully regain conciousness after that point. There were other surprises along the way but none were positive. I was a regular in the ICU waiting room and got to know many of the other patients' families. It was alot like living a TV drama but it was real. About a month later she died of septicemia (multiple blood infections). That was the noted cause of death. She was 51 years old.

I thank her daily for her life, love and spirit. She passed away before meeting her granddaughter, my daughter (24) and youngest who is now training to be an RN (Accelerated BSN program at CSUSM). Because of my mother's experience I have been diligent about seeking good medical guidance and getting regular echos and now celebrate being 55 years old with passion. Life is a gift and I am SO THANKFUL for the one I have. I now have 2 grandchildren and 1 more on the way. I know my mother smiles broadly every time I do and I can feel her presence. Some day I will join her but until then I live my life in the only way I know how.

Peace to all.

 

[Karlynn]

Karen, I lost my Mom to an aortic dissection too. All she had was a history of mild MVP and no one ever said anything about aortas and such. She literally what here one minute and gone a half hour later.

 

[thenewmarket]

Karen,

What a sweet tribute to your precious mother. I cannot imagine how difficult that was to lose her at 51. I turn 50 tomorrow and reading your post was most humbling. My husband's ascending aortic aneurysm was found during a routine chest x-ray. In 27 years of marriage, I have never scheduled a doctor's appointment for him. I was nudged by heaven to simply call and make an appointment for him with his internist. I had no idea what was to follow. Unlike John Ritter, we couldn't get to help fast enough when we knew something was wrong. We are blessed beyond measure...........

You keep enjoying those smiles from your mom!

 

[Christina L]

I was very glad to

I was very glad to

see those doctors vindicated. I saw them on TV the other day talking about all the heroic measures they took to save John. Doctors are not God and that is what we all need to remember.

Life is so tragically short (as evidenced on this thread), but I truly believe there is something wonderful waiting for us on the other side and when we get there, I think we will kick ourselves for holding onto this life like we did.

Christina L