RIP, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio)

Ohio's first black congresswoman dies after a brain aneurysm.

http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2008/08/hospital_confirms_us_rep_steph.html

 

Re: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in critical condition after brain aneurysm

Circus mentioned this already, but how common does anyone think a situation like is? Honestly, I would tend towards the rare end of the scale, but would there be any figures on how often this occurs.

Any stats mentioned in any of the reports?

 

Re: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in critical condition after brain aneury

I'll bet anyone $100 she's an organ donor.

I've had this happen to me lots of times on the cops beat: She's technically dead but they keep her alive long enough to harvest the organs. It's tricky reporting.

 

Re: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in critical condition after brain aneurysm

It happens more than you think. I've covered lots of one-car wrecks where the car just swerves off the road.

More times than not it's the result of an inexperienced/drunk driver, but occassionally it's caused by a pre-existing medical condition. You don't hear of it more, because it's usually a while before they can confirm what caused the death - not only through autopsy but through toxicology (to rule out drinking and drugs). By then, the newspaper has moved on.

 

Re: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in critical condition after brain aneurysm

It sickens me that places are fighting over getting the scoop if and when she passes.

Somebody's death is not a scoop.

 

Re: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in critical condition after brain aneurysm

That's probably not the case. You probably have a cop or family member telling reporters she's dead, but the hospital saying she's still alive (while they harvest organs).

It happens all the time. The hospital/coroner won't confirm she's dead until she is, in fact, dead.

 

Re: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in critical condition after brain aneurysm

Brain dead isn't dead.

 

Re: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in critical condition after brain aneury

What I mean is, they won't confirm it until after the organs are harvested. They usually won't comment about the patient being an organ donor until after the fact. Like I said, it's tricky.

 

Re: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in critical condition after brain aneurysm

I've had situations where a family member told me their loved one is dead, but the hospital maintained they were still alive. That's when I smack myself in the head like I just had a V8 and go back to the family and ask if the deceased was an organ donor.

The answer is always yes.

 

Re: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in critical condition after brain aneury

Yeah, but it's kind of hard to live when your heart is packed in a cooler inside a helicopter on its way to El Paso.