CPR Halted Due to False Information

NOTICE: This story was updated on Dec. 13 with comments from a hospital spokesman By Walter F. Roche

Resuscitation efforts were abruptly halted on a patient at an Allegheny County hospital in early September due to erroneous information from a staff nurse about the patient's code status, according to a state inspection report.
A nurse, who had not completed competencies for emergency care, "incorrectly" told the physician administering CPR that the patient was in the "Do Not Resuscitate" category. The doctor then stopped the resuscitation efforts.
According to the five-page report on the 271-bed Forbes Hospital, the unnamed patient had been admitted to the hospital on Sept. 8.
The next day a hospital employee found the patient unresponsive.
"The patient was blue. He was found to be in VFib (ventricular fibrulation)," the report states.
A physician began to administer CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) but stopped when the unnamed nurse "incorrectly" stated that the patient did not want to be resuscitated.
The report does not state whether or not the patient survived.
The report on the Forbes Hospital concludes that the hospital failed to provide care in a safe setting.
Subsequent review of the patient's record "revealed there was no evidence of a DNR order," the report states.
The Monroeville hospital filed a plan of correction that includes immediate staff education sessions and audits to ensure that proper procedures were being followed. The plan also makes clear that the physician at the scene bears the responsibilty for determining whether CPR should continue.
Dan Laurent, a hospital spokesman, said the facility self reported the incident to the state and made full disclsoure to the patient's family.
Laurent also said the plan of correction has been implemented.
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