HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 08-19 Maplewood emergency responders on leave after nursing home death KSTP 8/19/2015 KSTP.com
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6 Maplewood Emergency Responders on Leave after Nursing
Home Death
Updated: 08/19/2015 8:38 AM KSTP.com By: Jessica Miles
Six Maplewood firefighters and paramedics are currently on � � ���'
administrative leave as an investigation into the circumstances � '
surroundin a nursin home death is underwa . � �� '°"` '
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The investigation centers on a death that occurred August 7 at a ? :
nursing home. The Maplewood Fire Department and paramedics ' `
were called to the home on a report of a 71-year-old woman with � �
late stage Parkinson's disease who had stopped breathing. Photo:Photo:KSTP-TV
The nursing home staff had conducted CPR on the woman until
paramedics arrived and took over. A pulse was found, the woman was intubated and wheeled
out to a waiting ambulance. However, it was at that point when the woman's husband called off
the ambulance transport. The woman was wheeled back into the home and, according to a
police report, she died 20 minutes later.
However, because there lacked a clear ��do not resuscitate/ do not intubate" order, protocol
requires paramedics to transport the woman to the hospital. The woman's husband said he is
shaken up over what happened.
"He obviously is concerned because he believes and knows these folks responded to his
request; at the same time, we have an obligation that supersedes that relative to the law and
that's what our involvement was in looking at this," Chief Paul Schnell, with the Maplewood
Police Department, said.
KSTP's Jessica Miles spoke with the husband, who said the firefighters and paramedics were
very professional and that he doesn't think they should be held at fault for the situation. He said
he and his wife have health care directives; if anything, he said it was his fault for not making
it clear enough to the nursing home.
The initial investigation determined that nothing criminal occurred. It now comes down to a
policy and human resources issue with the individuals involved and the city of Maplewood.
According to the city manager, the investigation into the six people will likely take a week,
during which repercussions, if any, will be determined.
Sources told KSTP's Jessica Miles that people may lose their jobs as a result of this incident,
due to the fact that the woman died.