Can A Person Be Forced To Have A Spinal Tap/ Lumbar Puncture Against Their Will If Meningitis Is Suspected?
This has bothered me for years. On the tv show ER they had this guy who was forced against his will to have a lumbar puncture due to suspected meningitis, can this really happen?
Answers:
yes if you talk to any medical personal they will tell you if a doctor suspects meningitis you have to have it done and if you decline the health department will step in and get a court order to make you have it done but if a doctor does suspect it then you should have it done cause meningitis is a very deadly diase
No. As long as you are of sound mind you have the right to decide what they do to you. But if they suspect it, they can put you in quarantine. It's contagious and can be deadly. Anyone would be smart to let it be done just to be sure.
It should. A lumbar puncture is better than death from meningitis. Only idiots decline.
Hollywood misses by a mile...again!
you cant be forced but i would rather the doctors do their job so they can help me
no i was watching untold stories of the ER the other night (a true show) and this guy cut off his own arm and refused to let anyone attach it back even though it was saveable. an adult has the right to decide what type of service they can get and they also have the right to refuse, even if its for their best interest. crazy!
No. As long as he has the will to refuse, he can. He would have to sign doctors saying he did so against medical advice.
You didn't ask, but people are more afraid of spinal taps than they need to be. I've had three done. And while I'd rather not, if it means a more accurate picture of what's wrong with me, then I'll do it. But it's a fallacy that they are very painful. Because, they're not. What is kind of uncomfortable is when they bump a nerve with the needle, then you get an electric shock kind of feeling run down your leg. It's lasts about a second, and you yell at the doctor, and they move the needle.
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