W58 Bitten or struck by crocodile or alligator

[incandescens]

Small pleasures: we're currently clearing out/reviewing whole sections of cross-maps at work, and in doing so, are going through some sections of diagnosis coding which are not commonly used. These include what are known as the "external cause codes", that refer to the cause or reason for an accident. Some of these are very commonly used, such as "unspecified fall". (In fact, a combination of "unspecified head injury" + "unspecified fall" + "intoxication, alcohol" was a fairly frequent combination when I was back at the hospital and coding on the Orthopaedic wards. Wonder why.) Other ones, such as "fall from aircraft" or "injury while on boat" are less commonly used. There's a certain satisfaction to be going through them and seeing them.

And ICD-10 is very prepared. It even has the following code included:

V95.4 Spacecraft accident injuring occupant

Be prepared...

---

When we wish to correct with advantage, and to show another that he errs, we must notice from what side he views the matter, for on that side it is usually true, and admit that truth to him, but reveal to him the side on which it is false. He is satisfied with that, for he sees that he was not mistaken, and that he only failed to see all sides.

-- Pensees, Pascal

Comments

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

I am delighted that the NHS thinks so far ahead.

ETA: but is there one for 'struck by meteorite'?

[incandescens]

To be fair, I must admit that the ICD-10 is created and updated by the World Health Organisation. Canada uses it too, or at least uses a slight modification/expansion of it (ICD-10-CA). A number of other countries use ICD-10 as well, or use slight modifications of it, generally in the sense of expanding various codes to define specific disorders to a greater degree.

(Sorry, workspeak got into my vocabulary there.)

I am sad to say that I don't think there is an external cause code for "struck by meteorite". A pity.