Posted on 03/03/2013 2:19:31 PM PST by Nachum
A 911 dispatcher pleaded with a nurse at a Bakersfield, Calif., senior living facility to save the life of an elderly woman by giving her CPR, but the nurse said policy did not allow her to, according to a newly released audiotape of the call.
"Is there anybody there that's willing to help this lady and not let her die?" the dispatcher asked in a recording of the 911 call released by the Bakersfield Fire Department.
"Not at this time," the nurse said.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday when 87-year-old Lorraine Bayless collapsed at Glenwood Gardens, a senior living facility in Bakersfield.
In the seven-minute, 16-second recording, the nurse told the dispatcher it was against the facility's policy for employees to perform CPR on residents.
With every passing second, Bayless' chances of survival were diminishing. The dispatcher's tone turned desperate.
"Anybody there can do CPR. Give them the phone please. I understand if your facility is not willing to do that. Give the phone to that passerby," the dispatcher said. "This woman is not breathing enough. She is going to die if we don't get this started."
(Excerpt) Read more at gma.yahoo.com ...
If there was a DNR...this sounds ok...if NO DNR...there could be problems...I had to sign a DNR for my grandmother when she was about 90 .... 90 yr olds who have been laying in a nursing home for 10 years would probably have their ribs broken by resucitation...my grandmother had been there 10 years, didn’t know me, and I didn’t know what else to do.
CPR is against their policy!
An Obama facility for sure.
I’ll wager their guests/patients were NOT aware of this policy!
Where did you read that Mrs. Bayless had a DNR? I read in a couple places that she did not.
I posted this on the front page earlier.
Well, that changes everything. Why didn’t the nurse tell the dispatcher Mrs. Bayless had a DNR?
If the facility’s policy is for its employees not to do CPR on anyone even if they don’t have a DNR, that’s wrong.
I know my own mother doesn’t want CPR - both her parents died suddenly of massive heart attacks and that’s how she’d like to go. But she’s not that old yet and may God give us more years together.
I hate doing CPR on people who are terminally ill or very old - it’s brutal. Frail ribs snapping, vomit welling up...if someone had a DNR and she were past the point of treating, it would be an honor to sit with her and hold her hand and pray for a peaceful passing.
Oh, and if it were my own family member or friend, I wouldn’t call EMS until some time after she had died. Let the soul depart before a whole lot of strangers come tromping in and talking and doing their official business.
What about the daily mail article? Said there was a DNR.
Murder. The “nurse” needs to be shot. I hope her name is tracked down and advertised. Wouldn’t want to be a leader in genocide if I were a amoral liberal in the US.
Jury nullification...
wierd, some journolist was wrong then. lol
Then why call 911?
Don’t know why 911 was called but this is a common occurence and should have been a nonstory...sadly. Those that are ready to ‘touch the face of God’ should be allowed to do so peacefully.
Don’t know why 911 was called but this is a common occurence and should have been a nonstory...sadly. Those that are ready to ‘touch the face of God’ should be allowed to do so peacefully.
I really don’t know but will try to find out.
You can call me almost anything....
But don’t call me late for DNR.
Who needs Medicare to pay $3k a month for this ?
If you’re (presumably) paying for an on-site nurse, why ?
Edith down the hall can call 911 and watch you die for free.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.