Nurse Fails To Provide Patient With CPR, Company Backs The Nurse In Wake Of Death, Deceased's Daughter Doesn't Seem To Mind

A retirement community backs its employee who did not give CPR to a dying 87-year-old woman in California last week, and the deceased's daughter is allegedly okay with it.

A nurse at Glenwood Gardens in Bakersfield, Calif., refused to give Lorraine Bayless CPR after she collapsed last week in the dining room and was barely breathing, freep.com reports. The nurse called 911 for help, saying it was against the facility's policy for staff to give CPR.

KGET-TV says Bayless' daughter told the station she is a nurse and was "satisfied with Glenwood's handling of the situation." It said she had no "do not resuscitate" order on file.

With her mother's life on the line, the daughter of Bayless understood the practice of these nurses. She knows it is against the rules to administer CPR to a patient.

"I was appalled to hear of a policy at a facility that will not give CPR,'' says Robyn Grant, director of public relations and advocacy for The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-term Care. "Who knew? I guess this has never come up before, but it will from now on. It's an incredible tragedy."

The executive director of Glenwood Gardens, Jeffrey Toomer, defended the nurse's actions, saying she did indeed follow policy.

"In the event of a health emergency at this independent living community our practice is to immediately call emergency medical personnel for assistance and to wait with the individual needing attention until such personnel arrives," Toomer said in a written statement. "That is the protocol we followed."

Lorraine Bayless laid there, while 911 was dialed. She told the dispatcher that it was against the company's policy and that she could not resuscitate Bayless.

"It's a human being," dispatcher Tracey Halvorson responded on a 911 tape released Sunday by the Bakersfield Fire Department. Media outlets played the audio on Monday. "Is there anybody that's willing to help this lady and not let her die?"

The nurse responded, "Um, not at this time." Bayless was declared dead at Mercy Southwest Hospital later Tuesday.

Grant questions the facility's response when the dispatcher is heard on the tape pleading with the nurse to find someone to do CPR.

"I hate to judge anyone who might be worried about losing a job in this economy,'' Grant says, "but you'd really hope human decency would stand above policy."