A nursing home was fined $50,000 by state authorities after the strangulation death of its patient, who was strangled by the ties of his own gown. His roommate called for help by pushing the call light but no help arrived for 15-20 minutes. The aide who arrived to help found the patient unresponsive and not breathing on the floor at the foot of his bed. His face and fingers were dark blue. She mistakenly thought he was a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) so did not perform CPR. Once she determined that he was Full Code (take all measures necessary to resuscitate) it was too late, and he died.
A nurse's aide said the man's face and fingers were dark blue when she discovered him after returning from a break that night and loosened the nightgown strings. He began vomiting, and the aide turned him on his side. For more, read the story.
