Actress Natasha Richardson UPDATE has passed away after skiing accident

[cinsbythesea]

It's very possible that she already had a problem. For example, she could have had a weak vein, etc. in the place she hit her head. This would be a double whammy.

would the autopsy show if there was something like a weak vein, do you know? Or an underlying cause?

 

[Trino]

would the autopsy show if there was something like a weak vein, do you know? Or an underlying cause?

I don't really know. It's possible, too, that she may have hit her head on her pole or her ski if it came off. Skis and poles end up in strange places after a fall.

 

[AlwaysShocked]

An epidural bleed can usually be evacuated by drilling burr holes into the skull. Was this not done as an emergency treatment?

I have an adult daughter who was in a serious ski accident in Canada. She received excellent emergency care in a hospital close to the ski area. But the follow up care in a second hospital to which she was transferred was not all that good - and I was working as a med/surg nurse here in the US at the time, so knew what I was seeing before my very eyes!

Blood draw for hemoglobin and hematocrit every other day instead of every day was standard there, removed chest tube without first clamping tube for a period of time. Lung re-collapsed (which I, not the nurse, discovered) and another chest tube had to then be inserted. I could go on, but I won't. There were just different parameters for care than we have here in the US.

As soon as I was able to make arrangements, I had my daughter flown back to US and admitted to a US hospital by Medical Air Flight services, chest tube and all. (This took a lot of phone calls and a lot of money, which I really didn't have - but I got it somehow!)

Long story short - my daughter recovered.

Don't know if there could have been any other outcome if Natasha had been treated here in the US but I would like to know if anyone in Canada even tried to evacuate the bleed.

For those of you speculating: It is not usually a "weak vein" in the brain. What you are thinking of is related to an ARTERY and it is called an anuerysm. And, yes, that would show up during an autopsy.

 

[cinsbythesea]

It's just all so sad. Two days ago she was learning how to ski and living her life - what a nightmare this must be for her family. Hopefully, like Bogeygal says, we'll get some answers from the talking head experts tonight.

 

[Kat]

Link:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/19/richardson.paramedics/index.html

"Actress Natasha Richardson died of injuries caused by blunt impact to the head, the New York City Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Thursday."

 

[AlwaysShocked]

Well, as we learned at the time of Diana's death in France, different countries have different approaches to medical care - both emergency care and day-to-day care. So WHERE you are when you need emergency care can have a great bearing on the outcome.

After my own experience I would NEVER recommend a skiing trip to Canada. Period.

Also, FWIW, while I staying there in Canada I learned (from speaking to three different lawyers) that Canadian ski resorts have NO LIABILITY for the safety of their slopes or for any injury to a skiier. I asked one of the lawyers "You mean I could just come up here and buy some acreage on the side of a mountain, install a lift and say "Go to it" and there would be not requirement for me to look out for the safety of a skiier by installing fencing, hay bales, or anything like that? " and his answer was "Basically, yes. We do not have liability laws here like you have in the US".

 

[AlwaysShocked]

Within this article is a photograph of the first hospital to which she was taken:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...fe-support-relatives-say-final-farewells.html

 

[RhythmicSun]

Thanks for these posts, AlwaysShocked. Better to be informed, and I am glad your daughter recovered. Would should have, if you hadn't been there? I wonder.

 

[OkGrace]

My sister was involved in an accident, looking at her you could not see injuries (closed head injury), she ended up in a coma. Due to pregnancy we had to wait it out and eventually she came out of the coma.
From what I remember every situation is so different, brain injuries can be totally different from one person to the next.
While coming out of the coma it was interesting as she knew some things some days and other days she would revert to childhood (even managed to get phone, call Daddy's old work number repeatedly and insist she had been kidnapped!).
For the most part she recovered yet is not what she was. Luckily her body recovered, learning how to walk talk etc yet her mind is different.

I know this is a bit different from NR situation yet I remember all the different people/head injuries while she was in a rehab hospital, the mind is an amazing yet fragile thing.

 

[Pedrosmom]

My husband suffered an epidural hematoma after being thrown from a golf cart. The first hospital diagnosed a skull fracture and sent him home the next day. Since he had been drinking while golfing, the ER staff brushed off his poor neuro exam as "being intoxicated." Despite my insistance that they do an MRI, they concluded he was fine and needed to sleep it off. The next day, after coming home from the hospital, he became completely delirious, unable to see and was rushed to a trauma center. One neurosurgeon urged emergency surgery, but I insisted a second opinion. Fortunately, the vessel that broke was small, although the clot covered both lobes of his brain, unlike an artery or maxillary sinus which would have been fatal. They put him on massive steroids and after 2 weeks in ICU, the clot showed signs of absorption. No surgery was ever performed. He is lucky to be alive.

 

[Trino]

It seems some posters are hot on the trail if there were a possibility of a lawsuit. I was on a US ski patrol. It sure seems to me that the patrol went overboard in their examination, and they definitely encouraged her to seek further treatment. NR refused until it was obvious she had a problem. I'm not being critical, but she chose not to take this option. It may have made a difference.

Canada, by the way, is not a third world country when it comes to medical treatment. We have no idea of the treatment NR received. I have not heard her family utter one negative word about the accident or her treatment. Maybe it's best we follow their example.

 

[SuziQ]

It seems some posters are hot on the trail if there were a possibility of a lawsuit. I was on a US ski patrol. It sure seems to me that the patrol went overboard in their examination, and they definitely encouraged her to seek further treatment. NR refused until it was obvious she had a problem. I'm not being critical, but she chose not to take this option. It may have made a difference.

Canada, by the way, is not a third world country when it comes to medical treatment. We have no idea of the treatment NR received. I have not heard her family utter one negative word about the accident or her treatment. Maybe it's best we follow their example.

I'm not sure the ski patrol went overboard, IMO, the fall was much worse than what's been said. I think the ski patrol reacted the way they did and called the ambulance for good reason. And that reason was not for a minor fall.

ITA, you can't force anyone to seek treatment if they refuse. I did that once after falling off a bike hard and breaking my shoulder. The hospital was afraid I had hit my head. I told them I was sure I didn't and they said I might not have noticed since my shoulder hurt so bad. I went home anyways. I am very lucky it worked out.

In anycase, I don't think the family not saying anything negative at this point means much. I'm sure a lawsuit or assigning blame would be the farthest thing from their mind right now.

 

[Malapoo]

I just finished reading a book written by a Doctor (brain specialist) who had a stroke. Blood kills brain cells, and although they didn't say what part of Natasha's brain bled, they did say a bleed can potentially cause organs to stop working if that part of the brain is damaged. If her breathing ability was compromised, she may have been brain damaged before she arrived at the hospital and then progressed so quickly that it was just too late.

So very sad. I've always liked her so much and she seems a wonderful person. One picture of her looking up at Laim and smiling just shows how much she loved him. It's horrible for her boys too, but I am at least thankful they had her as long as they did so they will always have warm memories of her. They are all in my prayers.

 

[Cypros]

I woke up to this sad, sad news this morning but am only now able to get to WD to post my thoughts.

I was so hoping that the horrible reports yesterday were wrong and that she would recover. It is so sad to see such a vivacious and beautiful woman, one who always appeared to be happy, has died in just a tragic way. My condolences to her family and friends.

I heard a report yesterday that she was on the skiing vacation with one of her sons. Has anybody heard which son that was? Was he with her when she had the accident? Is he able to provide any information about what happened? those poor boys have lost their loving mother.

 

[Seahorseladydi]

I hope this can bring more information on Brain Injuries.. my son died from a brain injury.... there is SO MUCH doctors don't know about the brain.

Blood is like acid...... when it touches the brain... there is no way to reverse the effects.

I heard that her family was going to donate organs.... I hope and pray this is true.... she can live on... this is what we did and I NEVER once regreted it!

God bless her family and friends.... I hope they can get thru the horrible grief with the warmth of knowing she will always be with them!

 

[CyberLaw]

Prayers to NR family, husband and her kids.

From some indications, the ski patrol and instructor thought her fall warranted a visit to a doctor and or hospital.

But during the period of lucidity, Natasha thought she was fine. By the time you realize something is wrong, it may already be too late.

Please don't blame the medical system of Canada or the Doctor. You can rapidly decline from this type of injury.

Apparently when she was transferred to Lennox Hill it was not for treatment. It was a place where the family could gather and say goodbye. If there was any chance of recovery, she would have been transferred to a hospital that specializes in brain injury.

When a person has "symptoms" of a brain injury, like bleeding into the brain, it could at that point be "too late" for recovery.

 

[arielilane]

This is so tragic. Continued prayers for Natasha's family and friends.

And media, give them their privacy, please!

 

[Truthwillsetufree]

I feel such sympathy for their family. Something as benign as a skiing lesson and then being rushed to a hospital to spend your last moments with your family only puts things in a better perspective for me...Live each day to it's fullest and tell each person that is close to you how much you love and adore them. One never knows when you will have a second chance.
She was a beautiful woman and will be missed by many I'm sure.

 

[Brwnigirl]

Well, as we learned at the time of Diana's death in France, different countries have different approaches to medical care - both emergency care and day-to-day care. So WHERE you are when you need emergency care can have a great bearing on the outcome.

After my own experience I would NEVER recommend a skiing trip to Canada. Period.

Also, FWIW, while I staying there in Canada I learned (from speaking to three different lawyers) that Canadian ski resorts have NO LIABILITY for the safety of their slopes or for any injury to a skiier. I asked one of the lawyers "You mean I could just come up here and buy some acreage on the side of a mountain, install a lift and say "Go to it" and there would be not requirement for me to look out for the safety of a skiier by installing fencing, hay bales, or anything like that? " and his answer was "Basically, yes. We do not have liability laws here like you have in the US".

True, the liability laws may be different in Canada but I highly doubt you will find any ski hill with no requirements addressing safety or having boundaries marked with hay bales.
British Columbia has had a huge problem with snowboarders intentionally going out of bounds even though avalanche and other danger areas are clearly marked. That was the bonehead decision made by the adult that did it; why should the ski resort be liable for things like that? If anything, I am starting to think these snowboarders that put rescue workers in peril should be liable as they know they are out of bounds.
Why would a ski resort be liable for a fall on the bunny hill, where's the liability? You can't prevent every accident. Netasha ( RIP) is an adult who chose not to wear a helmet or to seek immediate medical care. The resort called for help immediately and the ambulance was turned away.
There are circumstances in every country where a person does not receive optimal healthcare, but it does not sound like that is what happened in this case.
In fact, a lot of Americans come to Canada for medical care and it is generally highly regarded.
Prayers to Liam Neeson and family.

 

[redheadedgal]

if a poster is going to assert that canada has a lackadaisical, unconcerned, careless, negligent approach to skier safety, i'd like to see an appropriate/reputable link please. thanks.


in regards to NR, i wish the resort would clarify what type of fall she actually had. did she land on her butt? her knees? was it a face plant into the snow? did she somersault down the hill? did she slide down on her butt? on her back? (basically, what position did she land in and did she travel any distance?)... this info might help us understand what exactly happened.