Yeah, I can see how California's exemption of medical professionals from the "Good Samaritan" laws may have had an influence in this case. If a nurse acts at all she is acting as a professional and not as a "Good Samaritan". I wonder how the assistance of a third-party at the request of the nurse would be considered by a court? Probably as an agent of the medical professional an so the medical professional is still on the hook.

I'd look to Sacramento and the CA courts if I was looking to assign blame in this case. They painted the staff into a corner where the only acceptable response is to do nothing.