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HOSPITAL

Swede finds ‘dead’ boyfriend breathing

A Swedish man declared dead in hospital was resuscitated after his girlfriend, who came to say her final goodbye, realized he was still breathing.

Swede finds 'dead' boyfriend breathing

The incident in May 2012 in Värmland County has left the 31-year-old man with memory glitches, balance problems and recurring nightmares, he said in a report of the incident to the National Health Board (Socialstyrelsen).

“Lucky for me that my girlfriend was there, without her I wouldn’t be here today,” he wrote.

His girlfriend, who also submitted her account of events in the medical malpractice report, said she was told by a nurse 30 minutes after taking her boyfriend to the emergency room that he had passed away.

Yet upon entering the room with the nurse and speaking with two doctors, she saw her boyfriend exhale. The medical staff explained that the body was simply getting rid of carbon dioxide.

But upon the girlfriend’s insistence, they restarted resuscitation attempts once they had sent her back to the waiting room.

About 20 minutes later, a doctor informed her they were trying to revive him despite initially thinking he was brain dead. She said the doctor warned there could be permanent damage.

The reason the 31-year-old was rushed to hospital is not detailed in the account, but his girlfriend asks why there was not more knowledge of the effects of Lyrica, an anti-convulsant and anti-anxiety drug.

“The staff should know more about Lyrica, e.g. that ingesting it causes dilated pupils,” the complaint read.

“If I had left, what would have happened to him?” she added.

Her boyfriend says he is now unable to work. He suffers memory lapses and concentration difficulties. Despite being offered work installing ventilation, his profession for a decade before last year’s incident, he turned it down.

“My job requires mental and physical strength. And I feel I’ve lost my mathematical thinking,” he wrote.

“I noticed it when I tried putting up two shelves on a wall and had to give up. I felt sad and frustrated when I realized this had to be because of brain damage.”

The young man said he now has to put up notes everywhere so he won’t forget things, but is plagued by frequent worrying.

He also said he felt violated by being declared dead without being further examined.

“I hope this never happens to anyone else!!!”

The Local/at

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COST OF LIVING

Emergency room visits to cost 50 francs in Switzerland

People who visit the emergency room for non-urgent treatment will now need to pay 50 francs after the Swiss government issued final approval for a rule change.

An ambulance approaches Geneva University Hospital. Emergency room visits will now cost 50 francs in Switzerland. Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP
An ambulance approaches Geneva University Hospital. Emergency room visits will now cost 50 francs in Switzerland. Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

The proposal was originally developed by Zurich National Council member Thomas Weibel and received approval by the National Council in 2019. 

The Council of States on Wednesday accepted the parliamentary initiative, meaning that people who seek treatment in the emergency room for non-urgent health issues a fee of 50 francs. 

This will be introduced as a co-pay, meaning that the patients would have to pay out of their own pockets (i.e. it will not be covered by insurance). 

READ MORE: Switzerland to introduce 50 franc fee for emergency room visits

MPs argued that this measure may dissuade those who are not seriously ill from going to the emergency room and overloading the system, while also taking medical staff away from patients who need urgent help.

Opponents countered that this may discourage people from visiting hospital who actually need treatment, however the measure passed with a narrow majority. 

EXPLAINED: Everything you need to know about health insurance in Switzerland

No concrete indications were given as to what amounts to ’non-urgent’ treatment in the eyes of the law.

This is expected to be laid out by the National Council who are now charged with the responsibility of drafting the rules. 

Exemptions could apply to children and adolescents under the age of 16, patients referred to the emergency room by a doctor, and those whose treatment subsequently requires hospitalisation.

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