SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -
The debate continues after a nurse refused to administer CPR to an 87-year-old woman at an independent living facility in California. The nurse said she was simply following company protocol, and that company defends her decision.
Police in Bakersfield, California said they haven't found any signs of criminal misconduct after a nurse at Greenwood Gardens refused to perform CPR on Lorraine Bayless, but the probe is ongoing. The director of the facility said, as an independent living community, their practice is to call emergency medical personnel for assistance as opposed to performing medical assistance themselves.
Howard Spiva, an attorney with Spiva Law Group, told WTOC he believes the company that owns the facility probably has an insurance policy with a requirement not to provide medical care for liability reasons.
But, he says the company could face some serious legal issues, and this can serve as an eye opener to everyone.
"This was someone watching someone die. Here's where I think their problems are criminally and civilly; the problem is she prevented anyone else from providing care to this woman repeatedly. I guess it gives us all something to think about when we put someone in a care facility," he said.
Battalion Chief Anthony Galagaza of the Bakersfield Fire Department said Lorraine Bayless did not have a do-not-resuscitate order on file.
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