Autopsy: Mix of pain meds killed Irwin soldier

[unhappycamper]

Autopsy: Mix of pain meds killed Irwin soldier
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Aug 22, 2008 8:08:04 EDT

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — An autopsy of a soldier who died while training at Fort Irwin has revealed she was killed by a combination of prescription drugs she was taking for pain.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department made the finding about the accidental death of Spc. Emily T. Ort, 24, of Willis, Texas.

“There is no evidence of suicide,” the report said. “The decedent did not have a history of chronic drug abuse.”

On May 3, Ort was discovered unresponsive in her sleeping bag and was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy was performed a few days later, but the report was not released until this week.

Ort had acetaminophen, morphine, hydrocodone and gabapentin as well as anti-anxiety drugs Valium and oxazepam in her system, the report said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_irwindeath_082208/%2e

[malta blue]

1. how sad.

Why aren't people informed about the lethal combination of drugs? I know that there were times in my life where I combined things that shouldn't be, completely ignorant of what the consequences could have been.

[midnight]

2. Why didn't the let Emily go home to recover? Our soldiers

are human beings, and need to be given more consideration.

[Systematic Chaos]

3. I was once on hydrocodone and morphine together for a time.

My doctor okayed it. It put my ass out like an old light bulb too, but I needed it to sleep while recovering from a wound. And this was with a body weight of just over 400 lbs. at 6 feet 3.

Right now I'm taking oxycodone (by itself) for an unknown problem with my left shoulder. I wouldn't stack anything on top of it without a doctor's approval.

I can't fucking imagine anyone as small as she'd have had to be (180 lbs. tops I'd guess) taking that much at one time. Any doctor who thought that was a good idea needs to lose their license!