Apparently the nurse was following the policy of the I-L facility which employed her. While I don't much like the policy of that facility, she did what some people find themselves having to do. I worked at a hospital in Texas which did not allow Respiratory Therapists (of which I'm one) to intubate patients during resuscitation. Only Physicians could do that. An R.T. who worked there till just before I got there intubated a patient after waiting what seemed to him to be an excessive time for a Physician to respond. He was fired that day. I'm pretty sure this policy was due to Liability issues, so I'll say no more.

Relevant passage:



http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/arti...331bef3b47ab87f

It seems unlikely that a dispatcher has any legal authority to accept whatever liability there might be. Still referring to the caller as a "nurse".

I don't know the law, but maybe the dispatcher doesn't need any authority. Perhaps the rule is that once the 911 call has been placed, 911 is liable for any instruction or action performed as a consequence. But then again, I'm no lawyer, and I'm just guessing.

So, I assume that no one has heard of any other situations with a similar policy that we need to be aware of? Maybe it's just limited to facilities that cater to the very old and infirm?

I mean, anyone heard of a gym with a no CPR policy? Or perhaps a swimming pool with a lifeguard who is not allowed to do CPR but has to call EMS instead? How about a private school? Are there privately employed elementary school teachers who are prohibited from performing CPR on students?

Sorry, I know I may be sounding almost flippant with my examples, but in all seriousness, I'm curious if there are other situations like this to be aware of.

I am not an attorney and I don't play one on the Internet. Nothing I write is ever legal advice.

My understanding is that in most, if not all, US States, medical professionals have a duty to provide care if they witness someone in life-threatening medical distress. If it was in fact a nurse and the nurse didn't provide CPR when it was called for, the nurse could easily lose his or her license.

In many US States there is a Good Samaritan Law that immunizes you against liability if you act within the scope of your training to help someone who might otherwise die. If you're certified for CPR or following the 911 dispatcher's directions, you cannot be held liable for performing CPR in those states.

I would never knowingly step foot in a facility that had a "no CPR" policy.

They can have whatever policies they like,you can choose to use their business or not.

Thats my take.

Ive worked in hospitals that do not,will not or cannot treat a patient across the street from the Hosp.,they have to be brought in by either EMS or somebody,but they cannot go outside the facility property to render care by the staff on duty.Never seen a policy in a Hosp in this state to the contrary,but there may be exceptions,ie,disaster and emergency triage situations where that policy might change,I dont know about that or exactly what the policy in that situation is.

Are you required to provide free tax services,or meat cutting for those 'in need' because you work in a field?

Big difference between assisted living and a Nursing home.

Are you suggesting that you would charge someone a fee before doing CPR?

An excellent example of 'learned corporate morality helplessness'

I failed my Corporate Health and Safety Policy, which consisted on how to sit in a chair and the learned helplessness when arriving and leaving the corporate building/facility or otherwise known as 'how to aid the criminal perpetrator, so as to become a mugging/assault victim'

Must of been 'London' way of thinking!

I don't think "learned helplessness" applies here. This seems more an example of willful refusal to help.