# Low potassium levels and cardiac arrest

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-potassium-levels-and-cardiac-arrest/308474>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 16, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-potassium-levels-and-cardiac-arrest/308474 "2005-06-16T01:33:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-potassium-levels-and-cardiac-arrest/308474/21 "2005-06-20T21:39:31Z")

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> [@samclem](#):
>
> I’m not trying to start anything. I just can’t find where the report says that “her collapse was not the result of bulimia.”

> **[Terri Schiavo Autopsy Released](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/crime/terri-schiavo-autopsy-released)**
>
> JUNE 15--An autopsy of Terry Schiavo was unable to determine to any 'reasonable medical certainty' what caused the 41-year-old Florida woman to fall into a vegetative state. According to the below rep

> [@](#):
>
> … No one observed Mrs. Schiavo taking diet pills, binging and purging or consuming laxatives, and she apparently never confessed to her family or friends about having an eating disorder. Recent interviews with family members, physicians, and coworkers revealed no additional information supporting the diagnosis of Bulimia Nervosa and, indeed, many other signs and symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa were not reported to be present.

So, basically, no evidence to support a diagnosis of Bulimia.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-potassium-levels-and-cardiac-arrest/308474/22 "2005-06-20T23:00:41Z")

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> [@toadspittle](#):
>
> [Terri Schiavo Autopsy Released | The Smoking Gun](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0615051terri1.html)
> 
> So, basically, no evidence to support a diagnosis of Bulimia.

And no evidence to rule it out.

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**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-potassium-levels-and-cardiac-arrest/308474/23 "2005-06-21T00:38:36Z")

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> [@samclem](#):
>
> And no evidence to rule it out.

I think you need to prove someone has an illness, not disprove it. But from the ME’s report (pp. 28-29 of the .pdf document):

“…indeed, many other signs and symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa were not reported to be present.”

“Her post-resusciatation potassium level and history of remote weight loss appear to be the only evidence that indicate she may have had some type of eating disorder.”

I find that pretty convincing.

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