I'm a nurse but after training avoided hospitals and went into private duty but always wondered, when a person has been 'tubed' and dies and they allow the family in to see them, why do they leave the tubing in? Seems kind of grim.
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ANSWERS: 3
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That was not the case with my mother. They removed the tubes and "cleaned" up before we saw her.
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Nope. After the patient passes, all tubes are removed, from vent to foley catheter to IV. The patient is cleaned up, prepped, and, on night shift (when I work) taken to the morgue. If the family is available, they might be called in to view their loved ones but that was rare. We always got notification if that was to happen so we would have the bed, as well as the patient, extra nice for them. We brush their hair, we put in their dentures if they have them, and try to make it as easy on the family as possible. I believe that the patient is kept on the unit until the family can see them if possible during 1st and part of 2nd shift. Of course, in the ER it does not always work this way. I do not work the ER... I am always on the units.
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Sometimes they have to, if they think the case will go to the Medical Examiner/coroner. (In some states, certain hospital deaths must be reported to the ME. The ME doesn't have to take the case, but must at least be notified.) If medical misadventure is suspected, all indwelling tubes/catheters/etc. must remain in place, in case they contributed to the death.
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