Question that has been bugging me for a while...

d.anthony

A few years back my cousin, who I live with, went into a diabetic coma. There was no-one else home only me, him and his mum (who doesn't drive) and when we rang an ambulance we were told it would take at least 40 mins to get to our house (we live in a rural area), luckily our uncle landed home and he drove him out to the hospital.

Now, my car was outside but it hadn't been taxed or insured in 6 months and, until my uncle came home I was ready to take him out myself. If I had to drive him out to the hospital and was stopped, would I be done for have no tax/insurance even if it was a life or death situation?

Just a question that's been nagging away at me ever since and wanted an answer!

Cheers!

RGDATA!

I wouldn't have thought twice about it personally, and most decent cops would let it slide. Don't know if the excuse would have been good enough on the drive home though.
Edit: technically I doubt there's provision in the law for such a situation

I think most Gardaì would assist you, rather than hinder you?

I am curious of this though, as it has been something that crossed my mind before. I've heard stories that Police (UK) generally volunteer an escort when this type of happens (they stop you for speeding or whatever, realise whats happening and offer to escort you).

Not sure if that's true or not, to be honest, though. If I had to guess I'd say it is true though.

Warrior011

Deleted User wrote: »

I think most Gardaì would assist you, rather than hinder you?

I am curious of this though, as it has been something that crossed my mind before. I've heard stories that Police (UK) generally volunteer an escort when this type of happens (they stop you for speeding or whatever, realise whats happening and offer to escort you).

Not sure if that's true or not, to be honest, though. If I had to guess I'd say it is true though.

I know of at least one life or death situation where an ambulance would have taken too long to arrive, the people in question then contacted the local Garda station, they were told go for it, don't bother waiting for an escort and to explain the situation if they were stopped

Aug2009

I agree most Gardai would be okay with it.

My Dad was caught speeding years ago but my sister was unconscious in the car and he was doing his best to take her to hospital.

Once the cops stopped him he explained the situation. They gave a Garda escort. Only thing my Dad said was that the escort was too slow.:D

Gardai are human.

touge_drift

one thing, if he caused as accident driving fast or what have you, he'd be fully to blame. i live in the city, so ive never experenced waiting times that long, but i wouldnt advise people driving wrecklessly to the hospital and possibly creating 2 or 3 patients instead of the orginal 1

Aug2009

touge_drift wrote: »

one thing, if he caused as accident driving fast or what have you, he'd be fully to blame. i live in the city, so ive never experenced waiting times that long, but i wouldnt advise people driving wrecklessly to the hospital and possibly creating 2 or 3 patients instead of the orginal 1

Fair Comment.

meathstevie

A diabetes related coma is a life or death issue. Although I would never condone driving without insurance in normal circumstances in a situation like the OP described it's not a matter of choice and debate when someone's life can be in the balance.

Breaking someone's window and entering their house is an offence as well but if you saw an elderly neighbour of yours lying unresponsive on their kitchen floor would you not smash a window and go in either ?

OP, in a case like that also ring the local GP. Wouldn't be the first time he or she shows up a good bit before any ambulance in a rural area.

WilcoOut

“that which is necessary is legal.”

coolmoose

FYI,

With regards to "life and death issues" and taking, in my opinion, unnecessary risks:

Diabetic coma normally refers to a severe hypoglycaemic episode resulting in a state of unresponsiveness. This can be reversed by administration of simple sugars or through the use of a hypo-stop or similar kit (glucagon).

Coma due to DKA, or hyperglycaemia is normally a late sign and normally occurs after a lengthy period (1-2 days) of the patient feeling unwell, vomiting etc.

Diabetics who suffer from hypoglycaemic episodes should ensure that they have these resources (glucose gel, glucagon) at hand for administration by friends/family who can be trained in their use in the event of a hypo, and who can also be trained in the use of the glucometer to check the patient's BGL.

This can often negate the need for an ambulance at all, and results in a much faster resolution of the diabetic coma in rural areas such as that described above.

montane

coolmoose wrote: »

FYI,

With regards to "life and death issues" and taking, in my opinion, unnecessary risks:

Diabetic coma normally refers to a severe hypoglycaemic episode resulting in a state of unresponsiveness. This can be reversed by administration of simple sugars or through the use of a hypo-stop or similar kit (glucagon).

Coma due to DKA, or hyperglycaemia is normally a late sign and normally occurs after a lengthy period (1-2 days) of the patient feeling unwell, vomiting etc.

Diabetics who suffer from hypoglycaemic episodes should ensure that they have these resources (glucose gel, glucagon) at hand for administration by friends/family who can be trained in their use in the event of a hypo, and who can also be trained in the use of the glucometer to check the patient's BGL.

This can often negate the need for an ambulance at all, and results in a much faster resolution of the diabetic coma in rural areas such as that described above.

The problem with that is that I am aware of two cases of people going into diabetic comas. They had never been diagnosed previously as diabetic, and no-one knew what was wrong with them until they reached the hospital.

WilcoOut

coolmoose wrote: »

FYI,

With regards to "life and death issues" and taking, in my opinion, unnecessary risks:

Diabetic coma normally refers to a severe hypoglycaemic episode resulting in a state of unresponsiveness. This can be reversed by administration of simple sugars or through the use of a hypo-stop or similar kit (glucagon).

Coma due to DKA, or hyperglycaemia is normally a late sign and normally occurs after a lengthy period (1-2 days) of the patient feeling unwell, vomiting etc.

Diabetics who suffer from hypoglycaemic episodes should ensure that they have these resources (glucose gel, glucagon) at hand for administration by friends/family who can be trained in their use in the event of a hypo, and who can also be trained in the use of the glucometer to check the patient's BGL.

This can often negate the need for an ambulance at all, and results in a much faster resolution of the diabetic coma in rural areas such as that described above.

ordinary joe citizen is not going to be able to diagnose this

so in his eyes, its a life and death situation. This person is unresponsive and needs medical attention urgently.

do the right thing, get him to a hospital by any means.

obviously try the emergency services first, but in failing that, get them there by some mode of transport

touge_drift

WilcoOut wrote: »

ordinary joe citizen is not going to be able to diagnose this

so in his eyes, its a life and death situation. This person is unresponsive and needs medical attention urgently.

do the right thing, get him to a hospital by any means.

obviously try the emergency services first, but in failing that, get them there by some mode of transport

ordinary joe citizen who is related to the patient. which ties in with what coolmoose said. my mothers a diabetic and when i was a child years and years before i was an emt i know how to check bgl and use the glucogon hypo stop kit as did other family members.

coolmoose

montane wrote: »

The problem with that is that I am aware of two cases of people going into diabetic comas. They had never been diagnosed previously as diabetic, and no-one knew what was wrong with them until they reached the hospital.

Which is why I referred to diabetics, as in those diagnosed as having and living with diabetes. Obviously nobody is going to know the causes of unresponsiveness in someone who has no underlying conditions until further investigation is carried out. Read my post again and you'll see that I don't refer to "any case where someone is unreponsive", I refer to "diabetics who suffer from hypoglycaemic episodes".

WilcoOut wrote: »

ordinary joe citizen is not going to be able to diagnose this

Where exactly did I say that ordinary joe citizen needed to be able to diagnose a diabetic coma? Ordinary joe does not include (as per the OP), someone living with or related to a diagnosed diabetic. It is part of the repsonsibility of having a condition that you learn about it, your family and friends learn about it, and you make preparations with regards to managing it.

touge_drift wrote: »

ordinary joe citizen who is related to the patient. which ties in with what coolmoose said. my mothers a diabetic and when i was a child years and years before i was an emt i know how to check bgl and use the glucogon hypo stop kit as did other family members.

exactly