After the first patient was removed, the hospital at near capacity, "turned over" the room quickly to accommodate a patient waiting in the ER for a while. He was being admitted for complications secondary to illicit drug use.

Upon arriving in the room apparently the patient asked his new nurse "Whats in the red vial?"

"What red vial?" she asked? "Nevermind" was the reply.

A few minutes after excusing herself the nurse reported back to the room to find the patient sitting very still, staring at the wall, not breathing but with a look of panic etched on his face. In his hand was a "red vial" connected to his IV......

In that red vial was a powerful medicine called succinyl choline that he apparently snagged on his way in the room, probably dropped on the floor from the prior "code blue." Succinyl choline is used to paralyze a sedated patient so that an endotracheal tube can be inserted in their throat in case doctors need to breath for them. It was not the fun he was looking for...

Giving a paralytic to a non-sedated patient is paramount to torture as being aware of the moment you lose all ability to move any muscles, especially those you use to breathe, is quite terrifying.

This young patient, was promptly sedated, and treated with an endotracheal tube and a ventilator until the paralytic wore off restoring his ability to breathe on his own.

And, we like to think his near fatal path to enlightenment possibly rehabilitated him faster than any therapy or treatment facility.

Submitted on 08/06/2012

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: Not publicly available

Copyright © 2012 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
As a personal account I think this is worth taking. Granted idiots that are hospitalized for illegal drug use likely aren't the brightest people to begin with, but randomly grabbing something found in an ER and injecting yourself with it is the height of stupidity. Thanks for sharing!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Oh. Good. Lord. Thanks for the story!

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