Coma woman mix-up pains US family

[iGav]

That's so :(

Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5037536.stm)

[Applespider]

I read the article just before you posted this and thought that if it was a movie or book plot, no-one would believe it.

I can understand there being possible identification mistakes in the first few hours/days when the face is particularly swollen/damaged but not to realise for over 5 weeks? Surely, there would have been shots of the 5 who 'died' in the press. Did they share a blood type in addition to both being blonde and attractive that confused everyone?

Having said all that, my heart goes out to both families who have had this situation dragged on (in addition to the others who lost family/friends). For those who were coming to terms with the loss of their daughter only to discover that she is alive but another family has been caring for her in her most desperate hour, I'd imagine there are feelings of massive rejoicing tempered with some guilt for not being there for her. For the family who thought they'd been spared only to discover that they should have grieved, I'd imagine that it's even worse.

[eva01]

This is possible to happen.

I mean not even the dead girls family knew that it wasn't their relative in the coma

[Counterfit]

I'm amazed that the families are both so understanding. Most people would have filed a suit already.

[Boggle]

I'm amazed that the families are both so understanding. Most people would have filed a suit already.

Let me guess, you're a trauma counselor aren't you?

What's wrong couldn't you find a nearby groups of kids to enlighten about how aweful life is, how their parents are ruining the planet and don't really care about them. Perhaps you could explain how they won't amount to anything so they don't bother to try?

Or you could get a job in hospital talking with the people getting ready for surgery, maybe let them know what they're in for, in case they're too confident. Oh, better still, get a job a retirement community, they could really use someone with your unique sensitivity.

[eva01]

I'm amazed that the families are both so understanding. Most people would have filed a suit already.

now why would they file suit?

One of the families was taking care of the girl, they made the exact same mistake of not recognizing that it wasn't their child


oh wait i understand. I forgot this was america


They will just sue themselves, gotcha.


I am going under the assumption that No ID was on the persons in the accident, or destroyed. 2 they did look similar and have the same features. 3 Not everyone has had their blood type and antibody screening (most don't have it done unless having surgery that requires a T+S or PC, PCA or have had a transfusion before) Unless they wanted to get a mold of said coma patient's teeth (assuming one of them had already have a dental mold already done) while she was in a neck brace, without causing possible more injury. Would you risk that? I know I wouldn't.

So yes very possible it could have been done.

[calebjohnston]

People in America just sue because.. it's the thing to do.

She died? You should give me some money! Make up for what I spent on her!

[Doctor Q]

This is like those stories about baby mixups in the hospital, where parents take the wrong baby home. But much more tragic.

Did they share a blood type in addition to both being blonde and attractive that confused everyone?Even if you carry around a card identifying your blood type (or are able to say what it is yourself), hospitals will ignore that evidence and test your type themselves before giving you blood. That's to prevent mistakes that could be fatal. So the girls may have had different blood types, but unless the parents whose daughter died knew her blood type and paid attention to the hospital records, they might not have noticed a difference.

People look so different in a hospital setting with no daily showers, no hair fixing, no makeup, oxygen masks on, not to mention bruises and other injuries that may have changed their appearance, that it's out-of-the-ordinary but not inconceivable that parents wouldn't know it wasn't their daughter, especially given the fact that officials told them it was their daughter and that what really happened would be too farfetched for them to think of.

So until their "daughter" was lucid enough to not act like their daughter, they simply didn't know.

[mkrishnan]

Let me guess, you're a trauma counselor aren't you?

Wow, why are you ripping into Counterfit? :(

[runninmac]

This may sound like im just one of those people online that make up crap that they semi-know people involved in this but one of my good friends brothers friends was really close with them. (I know long shot but...) The whole accident happend right around where I live (~15 mins away). Really sad how this whole thing happened. Heres a link to a more local news http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=55476

[musicalmcs8706]

This may sound like im just one of those people online that make up crap that they semi-know people involved in this but one of my good friends brothers friends was really close with them.
I know what you mean. I also have several close connections to this. How sad. I cannot imagine what this is like.

[Applespider]

People look so different in a hospital setting with no daily showers, no hair fixing, no makeup, oxygen masks on, not to mention bruises and other injuries that may have changed their appearance, that it's out-of-the-ordinary but not inconceivable that parents wouldn't know it wasn't their daughter,

I wasn't as surprised until I went to read their blog about Laura/Whitney. When her sister was talking about how the swelling had gone down and they were fixing her hair up into braids/ponytails/pigtails and removing the bandages (this was still 3 weeks before they made the discovery). Apparently, the girl had been asking for her father and looking confused when they called her 'Laura' - must have made her 'recovery' more difficult too.

[Queso]

Let me guess, you're a trauma counselor aren't you?

What's wrong couldn't you find a nearby groups of kids to enlighten about how aweful life is, how their parents are ruining the planet and don't really care about them. Perhaps you could explain how they won't amount to anything so they don't bother to try?

Or you could get a job in hospital talking with the people getting ready for surgery, maybe let them know what they're in for, in case they're too confident. Oh, better still, get a job a retirement community, they could really use someone with your unique sensitivity.

Boggle, do you honestly think there is a need for this? Posts like that one sour the atmosphere. Do me a favour and think what you're posting before hitting the "Submit Reply" button.

[Diatribe]

Let me guess, you're a trauma counselor aren't you?

What's wrong couldn't you find a nearby groups of kids to enlighten about how aweful life is, how their parents are ruining the planet and don't really care about them. Perhaps you could explain how they won't amount to anything so they don't bother to try?

Or you could get a job in hospital talking with the people getting ready for surgery, maybe let them know what they're in for, in case they're too confident. Oh, better still, get a job a retirement community, they could really use someone with your unique sensitivity.

wtf was that all about? :confused:

[Mr. Durden]

Let me guess, you're a trauma counselor aren't you?

What's wrong couldn't you find a nearby groups of kids to enlighten about how aweful life is, how their parents are ruining the planet and don't really care about them. Perhaps you could explain how they won't amount to anything so they don't bother to try?

Or you could get a job in hospital talking with the people getting ready for surgery, maybe let them know what they're in for, in case they're too confident. Oh, better still, get a job a retirement community, they could really use someone with your unique sensitivity.


He never said they should sue each other. Anytime there are mistakes made of this magnitude there is the chance of litigation. Not between the families but between the families and the hospital. And I'm not saying that should happen, I'm just saying its usually a good bet that it will. You really need to lighten up.

[Mr. Durden]

People in America just sue because.. it's the thing to do.

She died? You should give me some money! Make up for what I spent on her!


Yes, and people in other countries dont sue. Ever. Its perfect everywhere else. I cant believe the ignorance I see here sometimes.:rolleyes:

[Sdashiki]

Sue for what?

If you have ever seen someone in a car accident at the hospital, 99% of the time people always say "that not my _______". Then they come to terms with their loved one looking so horrid and in pain.

It takes time to look "normal" again.

No one is at fault here but circumstance.

[Boggle]

Ok, I definately should have tempered my comments. I'm sorry. I lost my temper and was inappropriate. But the post pissed me off.

His comments were thoughtless and mean. The idea that someone is "amazed" when people don't sue requires that you ASSUME the victims would AND SHOULD sue. It also implies that the author of the suggestion is in possession of all the facts. The post I quoted demonstrated no true consideration for the people who attempted to help the victims, the victims themselves, or the 2 families of the victims. It also showed a complete lack of experience around a physical trauma (particularly facial trauma) victim.

In my early 20's I worked on behalf of hospitals, doctors, and patients and have seen some very gruesome sites as a part of that experience. What I can tell you is this. The only people who are ever happy to hear someone suggest a lawsuit are contingency lawyers and people who already want to sue. The people who live and work with the kinds of horrible experiences don't appreciate such comments.

Sincerely,

Boggle.

[eva01]

Ok lets calm this down a bit. I am going the route of Doctor Q here.

I work in a hospital and go up on all the floors all the time.



Here is a story for you people.

I used to draw a patient for a PT for his coumadin level every week about two years ago.

This patient recently had a knee replacement surgery and i went into said patients room to draw the patient, and could vaguely remember the patients face it was hard due to swelling (and this is from knee replacement) I only knew it was the patient from the name on the door the labels and the wrist band on the patient.


Skip to today Said patient is in a gurney on the floors being rushed to critical care. I had absolutely no idea who it was due to swelling, and just well the usual hospital effects of bruising and hard to clean yourself and the such. It took a coworker of mine to vaguely remember who the patient was. The only reason i remembered is because they were coming from the section where the patient was staying originally.

I have known this patient for almost 3 years now and I had no idea who the patient was when the patient was being rushed (and i do mean rushed, many nurses pushing and doctor there as well, had a tracheotomy apparently from what i could tell [and an emergency one at that]) The patient just looked bad.

All I said was "oh my god i couldn't even tell it was . I hope [insert patient name] gets better soon, this is horrible."


And this is just from probably an infection due to knee replacement surgery

not a car crash



And also Doctor Q. You are absolutely correct about the blood type cards. A hospital MUST perform a blood type and antibody screen for surgery's or other types of things transfusions and the such. [i]because a patients antibody screen can change due to infections, so if you were to give a patient the correct type of blood (a, b, ab, or o) you can still kill the patient from the antibody screen.

So having your blood type on a card means absolutely zilch to a hospital.


Transfusions and Dialysis can change a person's antibody screen drastically. Which is why for surgery you have to have a type and screen done after your last dialysis appointment before your surgery.

This is also why a Type and screen is only viable for 72 hours if a patient has had a transfusion in the last 3 months. Due to possible changes occurring.

[Dave00]

I am going under the assumption that No ID was on the persons in the accident, or destroyed. 2 they did look similar and have the same features. 3 Not everyone has had their blood type and antibody screening (most don't have it done unless having surgery that requires a T+S or PC, PCA or have had a transfusion before)
In traumas, your focus is completely on saving a life. Identification comes later. ID's are often destroyed in the fire, and at any rate a person's clothes are typically sheared off ASAP so that one can get IV's and airways in as soon as possible. No one looks like themself after facial trauma PLUS an artificial airway (anyone who has had a relative intubated will know what I mean). As for the person who suggested that a lawsuit be filed, well that's just nuts. For what? Even they couldn't tell that was their daughter, and identification based on DNA can take months.

Dave

[Queso]

When you see the pictures of the girls before the accident, it's an easy mistake to make. There is quite a physical resemblance. The article also notes that the girls were at college together, so the parents who thought their daughter had survived are unlikely to have met the other girl before.

It's just awful when you think about what they've gone through. To have gone through the worry of whether she'd survive, then the relief as she starts to recover, only to realise that your own family member actually passed away weeks ago. And the other family must be having such mixed emotions.

My sympathies go out to all involved, including the families of the other students killed in this tragedy.

[jdechko]

Wow, that's an odd story. I don't think I've ever heard of that happening.

[Mr. Durden]

As for the person who suggested that a lawsuit be filed, well that's just nuts. For what? Even they couldn't tell that was their daughter, and identification based on DNA can take months.

Dave


I dont think anyone ever said there SHOULD be a lawsuit. Just the the thought that usually people are kinda quick to want to sue, especially in such an emotional situation. Thats part of what the little disagreement was about a little further up the thread.

But just to clarify, I can totally understand the mix-up. Accidents happen. I cant imagine what the families are going through. My thoughts are with them. Unless there is some proff of gross negligence, certainly no lawsuit should be brought against anyone.

Now I would like to suggest a group hug...

[rosalindavenue]

The outrage in this case needs to be directed towards the tractor-trailer driver who did this to these young women. The tractor trailer "drifted across the highway median;" he may have fallen asleep at the wheel. Link. (http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2006/0602/News/004.html)
There are about 3 million car-related injuries a year, 2 million permanent injuries and 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Link. (http://www.car-accidents.net/car-accidents-statistics.html) This carnage needs to stop.

[Sun Baked]

Why sue ... just go beat the crap out of the Deputy Coroner who helped them identify the wrong body.

[Counterfit]

Ok, I definately should have tempered my comments. I'm sorry. I lost my temper and was inappropriate. But the post pissed me off.

His comments were thoughtless and mean. The idea that someone is "amazed" when people don't sue requires that you ASSUME the victims would AND SHOULD sue. It also implies that the author of the suggestion is in possession of all the facts. The post I quoted demonstrated no true consideration for the people who attempted to help the victims, the victims themselves, or the 2 families of the victims. It also showed a complete lack of experience around a physical trauma (particularly facial trauma) victim.

In my early 20's I worked on behalf of hospitals, doctors, and patients and have seen some very gruesome sites as a part of that experience. What I can tell you is this. The only people who are ever happy to hear someone suggest a lawsuit are contingency lawyers and people who already want to sue. The people who live and work with the kinds of horrible experiences don't appreciate such comments.

Sincerely,

Boggle.
If you've been around, you'd notice that I hate pointless lawsuits, such as one over this case would be. The sad part is, many people in this situation would listen to some crackpot lawyer who would say "Sue everybody! You deserve compensation! Screw the doctors!", but I DID NOT at any moment advocate them suing anyone. I merely made an observation about the overly-litigious society we're becoming. I really do feel sorry for the family that found out they lost their member after she was buried, and I'm also happy that the other family will be able to see their member recover and enjoy life again. The simple fact that these families have been understanding instead of calling up some scumbag who's sue his own mother.
Frankly, I'm quite insulted that you find my comments "thoughtless and mean," when you're obviously the one needing to think more before posting.

I'd like to thank mkrishnan, dynamicv, Diatribe, and Mr. Durden for actually understanding my post and replying with reason, instead of flying off the handle without understanding the intent behind it. (Wait, didn't you accuse me of not having all the facts? :rolleyes: )

[floriflee]

I just read the story and my heart goes out to the VanRyns. That would be devestating to have hope like that for five weeks and then have those hopes dashed. I haven't read any of the blogs yet, but I'm assuming their daughter was already buried by the time they found out. Would they try to have another funeral service (change of headstone) then, I'm assuming?

Oh, that's just so sad!

[Boggle]

If you've been around, you'd notice that I hate pointless lawsuits, such as one over this case would be. The sad part is, many people in this situation would listen to some crackpot lawyer who would say "Sue everybody! You deserve compensation! Screw the doctors!", but I DID NOT at any moment advocate them suing anyone. I merely made an observation about the overly-litigious society we're becoming. I really do feel sorry for the family that found out they lost their member after she was buried, and I'm also happy that the other family will be able to see their member recover and enjoy life again. The simple fact that these families have been understanding instead of calling up some scumbag who's sue his own mother.
Frankly, I'm quite insulted that you find my comments "thoughtless and mean," when you're obviously the one needing to think more before posting.

I'd like to thank mkrishnan, dynamicv, Diatribe, and Mr. Durden for actually understanding my post and replying with reason, instead of flying off the handle without understanding the intent behind it. (Wait, didn't you accuse me of not having all the facts? :rolleyes: )

As I said before I lost my temper and was inappropriate. I apollogize. Given my first post in this thread my second post should have ended w/ the apollogy (no matter my feelings on the subject). Again, I'm sorry.

[d_and_n5000]

It is horrible. But it would have been difficult to ID them - they were focused on saving the ones who lived, and all their purses with ID's inside were thrown around the crash site. The ID of the victim was physical, the women had similar features, and they were probably both banged up more than enough to make identifying difficult.

I can only imagine what will happen now. Will they have to exhume Laura's body to move her body to where her family wants her to be buried, because Whitney's family buried her as their daughter? Will there have to be another funeral?

I can only imagine what each family is feeling at this moment.

Edit: They're doing a memorial service for Laura and in fact are exhuming her body.

[Counterfit]

As I said before I lost my temper and was inappropriate. I apollogize. Given my first post in this thread my second post should have ended w/ the apollogy (no matter my feelings on the subject). Again, I'm sorry.
I do believe this apology is accepted. Owning up to mistakes is harder than just ignoring them. :)

[Boggle]

I do believe this apology is accepted. Owning up to mistakes is harder than just ignoring them. :)

Thanks, I don't know if it was so difficult. I tend to be a very understanding guy, irl. But it surprised me that I did such a crap job TWICE in one thread. :confused:

[KC9AIC]

This is really hitting hard because I know a lot of people from the school where these girls are from. Also, I'm spending almost every day visiting my father in the hospital, as he almost died from a massive stroke. The energy and time required is tremendous, and I can begin to appreciate how devastating it would be to find that, for weeks, your whole life has been wrapped up in caring for the wrong person.

[raggedjimmi]

It's a sad story. :(

but to the running comments about suing. there was a car crash round here several years ago resulting in a little girl dying. Now, the car and driver had no insurance so he had to fork out a lot of his own money.
basically after the whole thing blew over the driver sued the mother of the child he hit and won the money back. happened in Rochdale, incidentally.

I don't know if there is a heaven or a hell. but I hope he burns in hell.

[floriflee]

On what grounds did he win the money back?? :confused:

[d_and_n5000]

I know that this is a reeealllyy old thread, but I saw an update to this today in the paper and decided to resurrect this thread rather than make a new one.

Crash survivor in ID mix-up writes book (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080326/ap_on_re_us/mixed_up_victims)

By JOHN FLESHER, Associated Press Writer Wed Mar 26, 9:27 AM ET

Critically injured in a highway crash that killed five others, mourned as dead by relatives and friends after a stunning identity mix-up, Whitney Cerak still marvels at being alive — and wonders why.
"I'm the only person I know who's listened to her own funeral," the 20-year-old says in the epilogue of a new book written by the families whose lives were intertwined in an ordeal of joy, sorrow and faith. "That was pretty weird."
Why did she survive the wreck on April 26, 2006, when four fellow students and a staff member from Taylor University in Upland, Ind., did not?
"I still don't get that," Cerak writes in "Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope," which was released Tuesday. "Maybe I'm not supposed to. Even if I can't figure it out, I know that God has a purpose for it, even if I never completely understand what it may be."
Cerak, who grew up in Gaylord, Mich., spent five weeks in a coma while the parents of Laura Van Ryn stood vigil by her side, believing she was their daughter.
Authorities in Grant County, Ind., had confused the two young women during the chaotic aftermath of the collision between a semi-truck and a school van on Interstate 69, midway between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Their blond hair and even some facial features were similar.
Cerak's parents, Newell and Colleen Cerak, declined to view the body they believed was their daughter's, preferring to remember Whitney as she had appeared in life.
Meanwhile, Don and Susie Van Ryn — and others who knew Laura — believed her appearance had been altered by facial injuries. Only when she began mentioning strange names while slowly regaining consciousness did they suspect something was amiss, the 275-page book explains.
One day, her physical therapist asked the patient to write her name on a sheet of paper. "WHITNEY," the woman wrote. As her father wheeled her back to her room, she mumbled, "False parents."
Uncertainty gnawing at her, Van Ryn's sister, Lisa, watched a "memories of Whitney" video the family had been sent. The eyes, the teeth, eerily resembled those of the person she thought was her sister.
Her father checked with one of the people who had identified the victims at the crash scene. There was "room for doubt," the person admitted.
Finally, after another therapy session, Lisa knelt in front of the young woman and asked her name. Whitney, was the response. And her last name? Cerak.
The Van Ryns were devastated, but quickly arranged for dental records to be checked.
That night, Colleen Cerak was awakened by a phone call from the Grant County coroner. "We have reason to believe your daughter may be alive," he said. Whitney's sister, Carly, furiously urged her mother to hang up, believing it was a prank.
But within hours, they stood at Whitney's bedside, sobbing with joy.
"Mistaken Identity," co-written with author Mark Tabb and published by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, weaves together narrative and religious testimony.
Both families are deeply committed Christians; Newell Cerak is a pastor at Gaylord Evangelical Free Church.
They say although uncomfortable in the media spotlight, they are telling their story to share "how God has sustained two families through His grace." They have heard from people around the world who were inspired by their strong faith.
The book also is a story of healing — for the Ceraks, Van Ryns and others.
Whitney has made a remarkable recovery and is on track to graduate from Taylor next year, university spokesman Jim Garringer told The Associated Press. She is spending this semester in Ireland in a study-abroad program.

[cazlar]

Wasn't there a House episode like this? I wonder if they based it on it.

[d_and_n5000]

Wasn't there a House episode like this? I wonder if they based it on it.

Yeah, I think so. It was the fourth season opener. In that one, it was an office building, though.

[Abstract]

People look so different in a hospital setting with no daily showers, no hair fixing, no makeup, oxygen masks on, not to mention bruises and other injuries that may have changed their appearance, that it's out-of-the-ordinary but not inconceivable that parents wouldn't know it wasn't their daughter, especially given the fact that officials told them it was their daughter and that what really happened would be too farfetched for them to think of.

So until their "daughter" was lucid enough to not act like their daughter, they simply didn't know.

Yes, I thought the same thing. It's probably an easy mistake to make. You'd like to think that you'd recognize your own daughter/son/friend/relative in a hospital, but with enough cuts, bruises, bandaging, and/or a brace, it is probably quite difficult.

I'm amazed that the families are both so understanding. Most people would have filed a suit already.
I merely made an observation about the overly-litigious society we're becoming.


I'm surprised too. It's America after all.

Boggle just overreacted. I'm surprised why he doesn't understand that the chance of a lawsuit is there. It's always there, even when it doesn't make sense.

[notjustjay]

Wasn't there a House episode like this? I wonder if they based it on it.

I was just thinking the same thing as I was reading the original article. "This sounds very familiar..."