By Paul Harper
The Mid Devon Gazette
DEVON, England — A nurse refused to resuscitate an elderly woman who had choked on a sandwich in a care home, an inquest has heard.
Julie Thomas disagreed with pleas from 999 control room staff to attempt a resuscitation of retired nurse Diana Muir, 79, who died at Swimbridge House Nursing Home in December last year.
In her statement, which was heard at an inquest at North Devon Magistrates’ Court, Ms Thomas said: “I told them I was not going to do it. There were no signs of life and no pulse.
“It was obvious to me the person was dead and had been for a while and it would not be of any use.”
Ms Muir was checked on at 7.30pm and then discovered by Ms Thomas at 8.25pm, slumped in a chair with a blue face, showing a lack of oxygen, the inquest heard. Ambulance staff arrived shortly after 9pm and used a defibrillator to try to revive her.
In her statement, Ms Thomas said she was not worried when paramedics told her the police might want to speak with her.
She said Ms Muir — known by staff as “Micky” — had a living will, which specifically asked care staff not to try resuscitation if the situation arose.
The inquest heard Ms Muir went to the care home in September after relatives became concerned about her suffering frequent falls.
She had aphasia (difficulty speaking), and had not talked since the death of her husband five years ago.
She was described by another nurse, Nicola Dart, as “one of the more self-sufficient residents”, the inquest heard.
On the day she died, Ms Muir was given a choice of dinner at 5.45pm and picked soft cheese, corned beef sandwiches, fruit and coffee.
In statements to the inquest, care staff said they would cut up meat into small pieces for Ms Muir but she had no other special eating requirements.
Jason Davies, an independent pathologist who carried out the post-mortem examination at North Devon District Hospital, said the cause of death was choking.
The inquest heard a statement from GP Sally Hunt who said Ms Muir was not diagnosed at any time with difficulty swallowing food.
The coroner, Dr Elizabeth Earland, recorded a verdict of accidental death. Ms Muir’s family declined to comment.
Speaking after the inquest, Ms Thomas said: “When the paramedics arrived, I explained she had a living will and did not want resuscitation. I explained there was no need for CPR anyway, which I feel is abusing the body.”
The South Western Ambulance Trust said “do not resuscitate” aimed to prevent the “unnecessary administration of resuscitative efforts”, for example if against the wishes of the patient.
But when faced with a blocked airway, which was potentially reversible, paramedics had a duty to attempt a resuscitation.
A police spokesman said the incident did not warrant an investigation.
Copyright 2010 Mid Devon Gazette