Dallas Hospital Defends Ebola Patient's Care
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A day after the death of Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in America, those closest to him continue to question the quality of care he received.
His fiancee called for a thorough review of his care in a statement released hours after his death. Duncan's nephew questioned why his uncle was the only patient to die of the five people who have been treated for Ebola in this country.
Duncan was originally sent home from the Texas Presbyterian Hospital emergency room, even though he told a nurse that he had traveled from West Africa. He returned with more severe symptoms three days later and was admitted and placed in isolation.
Texas Presbyterian has faced criticism for not immediately admitting Duncan, but the hospital is defending his care saying that a team of more than 50 people treated him compassionately and professionally during his time there.
The hospital released a statement giving a timeline of his condition, explaining that on October 4, Duncan changed from serious to critical condition. His condition further deteriorated four days later, and his heart stopped. Duncan had told his doctor that he did not want chest compressions, defibrillation or cardioversion, according to the hospital.
Although Duncan did not receive the Ebola experimental drug ZMapp given to other patients, because it was no longer available, Duncan was the first person to be treated with another "investigative antiviral drug" called Brincidofovir.
The hospital further explains that Duncan did not get a blood transfusion as other Ebola patients have received because his blood type was not a match.
Texas Presbyterian also addresed Duncan's original emergency room visit, saying that he received the same "high level of attention and care that would be given any patient, regardless of nationality or ability to pay for care," which included a four-hour evaluation and numerous tests.
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