Beverly Fields, a spokeswoman for the D.C. Medical Examiner, said the cause of death was classified as acute alcohol intoxication, a clinical term for alcohol poisoning. The death was determined to be an accident. (The Hatchet, 4/28/09)
What I, and many other students and parents are questioning, is why did it take so long (about 4 months) for them to figure out she died from alcohol poisoning? Why haven't they released her blood alcohol level, even to the Hatchet or her close friends? Could there have been other causes as well-- like many things other than just alcohol related? In a follow up article in January the Hatchet said she had died from natural causes.
Ann-Marie Treanor says she still has no idea what killed her daughter, but wonders whether Laura's prior medical conditions may have played a role.
She said in an interview Friday night that her daughter had recently complained of painful headaches and chronic bruising, and had been treated for Lyme disease in the fall - though Laura was not taking prescription medication at the time of her death, she said. She had also been diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease - a condition that affects the skin - in October and had seen a local hematologist. Roommates said the week before her death, Treanor showed them her palms, which had become largely black and blue. (The Hatchet, 1/26/09)
Also, her roommates and close friends that night didn't even think she was sick. They went out to Adams Morgan, and walked back to her room. But there didn't seem any indication that she was sick or overly intoxicated. Can you still have alcohol poisoning and not have confusion, seizures, and vomiting?
Sophomore Max Mahoney, one of the last people to see Treanor alive, said she and a group went out to a bar, which several friends and bar patrons confirm was Adams Mill in Adams Morgan. She was seen entering at about 11:45 p.m. and several people who saw Treanor later in the evening said she did not appear intoxicated. Mahoney said he last saw Treanor "after midnight" in Ivory Tower and that there was no indication that she was sick. (The Hatchet, 1/26/09)
Also, why didn't the Hatchet wait to release this information until after finals? They even sent out the article as "breaking news" in an email to parents, who are now worried about the safety of their children. Personally, I feel like even though the Hatchet obtained this information this week, they were completely insensitive and by no means is this breaking news. Also, they should've considered the reactions of her roommates and friends, because it's finals week and this just adds frustration and stress to everyone who knew her.
4 comments:
Agreed. Something about this isn't quite sitting right with me, either. If no one recalls her being intoxicated, how could she have possibly drank enough?
Can you do a FOIA request of some sort?
Maybe she should have acted responsibly...then nobody would have been negatively affected.
There is no personal resposibility anymore. Nearly every Nation in the world has a legal drinking age limit of age 18. I missed the cutoff in 1984, but my sister did. By lowering the age limit, they made it "Taboo" and added to the problem. In fact, less people died from alcohol poisoning prior to the law in 1984 than today. This young ladies death (though tragic), is simply her fault. Most states you have the responsibility and can drive an automobile at 16 and go off to war at 18 and fight for our country but cannot be responsible to have a drink? Ridiculous!
You don't need to act sick or throwing up to suffer from alcohol poisoning. Many folks get "quietly" drunk, and the symptoms may simply look like the person it very tired or falling asleep. In fact, it is actually worse to fall asleep when you are extremely drunk, as the alcohol will have a greater impact on your reduced body activity. So please do not go out and assume that as long as you are not throwing up it is okay to drink. Alcohol poisoning can be a somewhat silent killer, as this case tragically was.
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