Trigger warning - Death

[ijnsa]

not aibu, but need to talk about this so putting it here.

If someone went into hospital with sepsis, would they be released if they still had sepsis? Is it safe to say they would be being released to die at home? If so, Would the family be told that this is what was happening?

Your need to know more info.

How long is a piece of string? Depends how severe it is. Too many variables. Impossible to answer.

Very very unlikely someone would be discharged to die of sepsis at home.

However can be discharged on oral antibiotics

Someone needs to be in hospital if they can't be treated anywhere else, and in an ideal world they shouldn't leave hospital until there is enough support in place for them to do so. The system really is fraying right now though. Covid is playing havoc with us just now - lots of patients with it, lots of staff off with it.

It might be that the person no longer needs treatment that can only be given in hospital - maybe their treatment can be done at home?

More info: My Grandad was diagnosed with terminal cancer a year ago, Had a scan three weeks ago and was told it was good news, it hadn't grown or spread at all. Two weeks ago he was taken to hospital with severe stomach pains which turned out to be sepsis.

After being in hospital for almost two weeks he hadn't eaten anything and was barely drinking anything, spent all the time there in bed, was very weak, confused etc. We asked his doctor if he was coming to the end of life stages and got the following answer: 'Why would you even think that? he's not at the end of his life at all'

He was released on Friday, Told us he still had the stomach pain and he had told the doctor that, his pee was still dark brown, he was being sick all over himself etc. He died Sunday in excrushiating pain, First thing the doctor who confirmed his death said was 'Has a nurse not been out to him at all to give him morphiene?' They told us nothing.

Just need to know if its usual to discharge someone in so much pain spewing up over themselves and not even tell his family anything so we could make him comfortable and in less pain. They sent him home with a zimmer frame and some laxatives.

I'm so sorry for your loss.
I had sepsis.
It's horrible , in hospital for 12 days but when I went home that was when I felt really weak
If your Grandad was on iv antibiotics in hospital they must have got the infection under control.
You can request a post mortem.
My mum died of stage 4 in a hospice.
She went in to get her pain under control.
The doctors told me she was not end of life stage and I should go home.
The next morning she was dead.
Sometimes elderly dying patients just decide enough is enough.
It's so very sad and traumatic for us left behind but they have gone.
They are no longer ill or suffering.
We have to accept that and start to grieve for the loss of who they were, how they lived their lives and what joy they brought to your life.
Don't dwell on the how's or why fores as it will eat you up.
Remember the good times and soon you will smile and not cry at that memory.

Sorry for the loss of your grandad
I'm not an expert so can't answer your specific questions, but that doesn't sound like good care, and I think there needs to be an investigation into what happened.

It sounds as though the doctors have missed the signs that your grandad was at end of life and failed to put appropriate end of life care in place. This isn't unusual unfortunately.

He shouldn't have been discharged until all investigations had been completed, a diagnosis made for the abdominal pain and vomiting and a plan of care (end of life if appropriate) put in place.

I'm sorry for your loss and that he was apparently let down so badly. Many doctors can't deal with end of life issues.

One last question please, Generally how long does it take for someone to take the body after death? As in, he died, we called the doctor to come and confirm, He was lying there after he died from 2pm until 5am the following morning before anyone came for him. Is that normal? This is the first time I have ever lost anybody so just had a few questions as I'm trying to process it all.

Thank You.

The undertakers usually come quite promptly once death has been confirmed. They can be delayed if they have a heavier workload or staff off sick.

The time varies with undertakers but my mam was gone within 20 minutes and was returned to us an hour later. I'm so sorry for your loss it's very distressing to see someone you love suffer before passing away ❤

@ijnsa

not aibu, but need to talk about this so putting it here.

If someone went into hospital with sepsis, would they be released if they still had sepsis? Is it safe to say they would be being released to die at home? If so, Would the family be told that this is what was happening?

Sorry to read if your awful news. Your grandads medical records or treatment are not meant to be divulged.

If his sepsis was from a perforated cancerous ulcer and if medical or surgical options were exhausted a person might be sent home with palliative home support.
Still the family should be aware and obviously staff should have been supporting him at home.

OP I don't know if it's usual or what the parameters are but I do know someone who almost died of sepsis in hospital but eventually discharged and is still being treated by his GP

That sounds like a total mess from start to finish. I would ask for a meeting with the hospital to get some answers to your questions.

Write down what happened, everything your grandad said, with dates and times.

Im so sorry you've had such a terrible loss.

Do you know for sure he was discharged? I just wonder if he could have discharged himself