News, Girl, 13, Brain-Dead After Routine Tonsil Surgery.

[ToucheGA]

Originally Posted by TFW46

It wasnt a simple tonsillectomy. According to the hospital, she had a complex surgery, with several procedures done to alleviate her sleep apnea.

I feel very bad for the family but they've spread much mis-information about this case (such as calling it a routine tonsillectomy) and have refused to allow the hospital to release some its own information about exactly what was done and what happened. And no one will know the full truth until an autopsy can be done, which, of course, the family wont allow (yet).

Good point. There are no laws that prevent the family from releasing information to the media, but The hospital cannot defend itself against any misleading or inaccurate information that the family is reporting to the media.

[ToucheGA]

The family is now trying to move the girl's body to another (unnamed) facility. A transfer will apparently require placement of tracheostomy and gastrostomy tubes. However, the family might have a difficult time getting the hospital and/or any physician to perform these surgical procedures on a person who is no longer alive, as "Children's Hospital Oakland does not believe that performing surgical procedures on the body of a deceased person is an appropriate medical practice." I am guessing that this factor will prevent the planned transfer. However, she will only need the tracheostomy and gastrostomy tubes if she is transferred to a long term care facility, such as Nursing Home or Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH.) They may be able to transfer her to another hospital without these procedures, if another hospital is willing to accept the transfer. Albeit, I doubt another hospital will be willing to take on this media circus (and the associated liability).

Jahi McMath's family seeks to move brain-dead girl to another facility

I am trying to figure out who is paying for all this care. If the girl was insured, I am certain that the insurance company stopped reimbursing the hospital the moment she was declared deceased. She is almost certainly "self pay," which will likely leave the family holding a very large hospital bill. Extended ICU care seem to run around $4,000 per day with mechanical ventilation. That adds up quickly (roughly $64,000 since the day she died.)

[wit-nit]

The family is in complete denial, wishing for unexpected hopes that will never materialize. They also are running up a huge medical bill and if they continue the costs could exceed over a million dollars and guess who will more than likely end up paying for it.