# Why do people with sepsis get hand and foot amputation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2013, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-with-sepsis-get-hand-and-foot-amputation/674903 "2013-11-27T08:47:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-with-sepsis-get-hand-and-foot-amputation/674903/21 "2013-11-30T15:57:23Z")
If xkcd doesn’t have something to say about any given subject, [youtube does.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-3nOLTI26U&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dc-3nOLTI26U) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-with-sepsis-get-hand-and-foot-amputation/674903/22 "2013-11-30T17:52:50Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > We have a winner! > > DIC with its subsequent clots cutting off blood flow to peripheries like noses, fingers, hands, penises, feet, etc is the primary reason that septic patients need amputations. > > Other parts of the body can be clotted off too, which is why some septic patients need hunks of bowel cut out. I followed a blog for a while that was written by the family and friends of a woman who had a post-partum infection that led to her being a quadruple amputee on dialysis, with short-gut syndrome. In addition to losing all four limbs above the elbows and knees, she also had both kidneys removed, along with almost all of her GI tract. :eek: She has gone on TV and said she’s happy to be alive, but I just can’t imagine that she has ANY quality of life. ☹ I read somewhere that this is what Jim Henson’s life would have been like had he survived the massive infection that killed him. ---
**Author:** ![tci707](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@tci707](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tci707)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-with-sepsis-get-hand-and-foot-amputation/674903/23 "2013-12-01T21:56:47Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I followed a blog for a while that was written by the family and friends of a woman who had a post-partum infection that led to her being a quadruple amputee on dialysis, with short-gut syndrome. In addition to losing all four limbs above the elbows and knees, she also had both kidneys removed, along with almost all of her GI tract. :eek: She has gone on TV and said she’s happy to be alive, but I just can’t imagine that she has ANY quality of life. > > ☹ > > I read somewhere that this is what Jim Henson’s life would have been like had he survived the massive infection that killed him. Yes I wonder sometimes why the doctors don’t withdraw the antibiotics if the person will be a quadruple amputee. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-with-sepsis-get-hand-and-foot-amputation/674903/24 "2013-12-01T22:11:01Z")
Some people have adapted to such a life. Granted, there is a LOT to adapt to, but it shouldn’t be up to the doctors to determine if life is worth living or not, it should be up to the person who will have to live with the situation. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-with-sepsis-get-hand-and-foot-amputation/674903/25 "2013-12-02T00:15:01Z")
> [@tci707](#): > > Yes I wonder sometimes why the doctors don’t withdraw the antibiotics if the person will be a quadruple amputee. I also remember a bikini model whose life would have been like this had she survived. We all agreed that it was better that she died. IIRC, she was only about 20 years old, and had been in excellent health prior to contracting this infection. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-with-sepsis-get-hand-and-foot-amputation/674903/26 "2013-12-02T00:19:21Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > We all agreed that it was better that she died. I wonder if she agreed. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-with-sepsis-get-hand-and-foot-amputation/674903/27 "2013-12-02T16:59:04Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I wonder if she agreed. I, for one, would not want to be a quadruple amputee on dialysis, possibly also living on TPNs because of short-gut syndrome. YMMV, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-with-sepsis-get-hand-and-foot-amputation/674903/29 "2015-01-10T07:26:25Z")
Post is look very reported. (ETA: And besides, when is amputate hand and foot of zombie, what good is that do?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-with-sepsis-get-hand-and-foot-amputation/674903.md?page=1)