[US] Nurse refuses to perform CPR

[ZombyChan]

I forgot that the phone operator has more knowledge than a trained nurse. Oh wait.

[lockedout]

Jeeze....imagine that. You'd rather let someone die than break the rules.

They could get sued AND they could say the reason the lady died was due to the person trying to help her.
It's fucked up but that how it is. Not saying I agree and also not saying I wouldn't help anyway.

---------- Post added 2013-03-03 at 09:55 PM ----------

It's a retirement home. People go there to die. The family obviously knew the DNR protocol was a part of the facility.

Its standard practice, so not like you even have a choice if your only option is one of these homes.

[Deleted]

Lets see when someone doesn't help to get the old womens handbag back when it gets stolen on the street. "He could sue me for stopping him."

Its just mind boggling why she did not go and find someone who could do the CPR.

[Ausr]

There must be a reason why this rule was set in the first place.
Until we know the real reason, there is no way to judge the nurse.

Btw, here in germany it would not be possible to refuse CPR because of some company's rule. You could be sentenced for up to one year in prison.

If I remember the story correctly from last night, it's not a nursing home. It's just a retirement complex. The CPR rule is there to avoid a lawsuit, which is something we Americans are obsessed about.

[lockedout]

Lets see when someone doesn't help to get the old womens handbag back when it gets stolen on the street. "He could sue me for stopping him."

Its just mind boggling why she did not go and find someone who could do the CPR.

No but the criminal could press charges against you for assault if you touched him.

[Deleted]

Did the 87 year old woman even want saving? Not saying what she did was OK, but we don't know the full circumstances, and ofc the wishes of the elderly woman involved.

[Deleted]

I forgot that the phone operator has more knowledge than a trained nurse. Oh wait.

A trained nurse that stands there and does nothing? What good is that knowledge in that situation?

[schwarzkopf]

Jeeze....imagine that. You'd rather let someone die than break the rules.

Unless I was a wealthy person, I would too.

Too many people getting sued for doing the 'right' thing.

[Deleted]

No but the criminal could press charges against you for assault if you touched him.

I know, thats the problem, you are not allowed to help because in the end you are screwed which is fucked up in the first place.

Nontheless I would do it. I had to help with the CPR so I would have helped with the handbag. As Puri said in Germany you have to help, its law.

[larrakeyah]

Tort law. The nurse did the right thing.

[skrump]

Ms Bayless' daughter, who is also a nurse, says she is satisfied with the care her mother received

That little comment tells me that if the daughter was a decent person "which i assume she is since she is a nurse" that it was the mothers time to go.
And even if the daughter wanted to fight it I am sure they signed something somewhere acknowledging they were told about this policy.

On that note I assume I will have a heart attack within the next 15 years and I don't want any medical help, I will pass quietly as nature intended.

[TEHPALLYTANK]

Ms Bayless' daughter, who is also a nurse, says she is satisfied with the care her mother receive

I wouldn't be surprised if there were a DNR order considering the direct family of the deceased appears to be fine with what happened.

[Serendipity_09]

Anyone thought that perhaps the daughter did not want her mother to be resuscitated?

Honestly, the only person who is having an issue in this story is the phone operator...

It comes down to "is it ethical?" Well if you think it isn't, it isn't. If you think it is, it is. Simple as that really.

[Raidenx]

What an asshole.

[Kasierith]

The problem with allowing frivolous lawsuits placed against people with good intentions is that ultimately, people are going to decide that they have to defend themselves first. It's one reason why your medical costs like doctor visits are so high; you're paying for their malpractice insurance.

[Catta]

Not that I'm defending the policy, but I read not long ago that most elderly CPR recipients receive broken ribcages and little else.

I'm not defending the nurse or the policy... I'm just stating there might be a reason for said policy.

Yea, a broken rib cage is preferable to a bad case of being dead.

We are told continuously that you cannot do anything to harm them if their heart stops so no need to worry about breaking things.

---------- Post added 2013-03-03 at 11:11 PM ----------

It comes down to "is it ethical?" Well if you think it isn't, it isn't. If you think it is, it is. Simple as that really.

So ethical is a meaningless statement you say...

[Frozenbeef]

I wouldn't have touched her :S

Someone down the road from me phoned the police because my neighbor shoveled her drive/ path when it snowed and the person slipped and hurt his arm :S

[Catta]

I forgot that the phone operator has more knowledge than a trained nurse. Oh wait.

Yeeeeeeaaaaaa-NO.

Doing nothing is the worst possible thing she can do.

---------- Post added 2013-03-03 at 11:13 PM ----------

The problem with allowing frivolous lawsuits placed against people with good intentions is that ultimately, people are going to decide that they have to defend themselves first. It's one reason why your medical costs like doctor visits are so high; you're paying for their malpractice insurance.

Oh they should allow them - they just shouldn't be able to win...

[Kasierith]

Oh they should allow them - they just shouldn't be able to win...

Laws suits only look at the end results. If your actions broke someones ribs, you just broke their ribs, even if you saved their life.

[anveena]

Her daughter was fine with it, so I'm not seeing what all the outrage is about. It wouldn't surprise me if the lady had a DNR order and the media conveniently left that out to stir up shit with this story.