The News Herald
PANAMA CITY, Fla. — A man is recovering at a local hospital after police say an off-duty nurse attempted to perform a tracheotomy on him while he was choking.
The Panama City police and fire departments responded Monday to a call of a man choking at Pepper’s Mexican Grill & Cantina, 2061 N. Cove Blvd. On scene, officials learned before that the fire department arrived, a licensed practical nurse who was at the restaurant at the time had “attempted a crude tracheotomy on the victim,” according to a PCPD report.
The fire department stabilized the man’s airway and took him to the hospital, where he is recovering.
Police investigators were involved in the case because the LPN’s actions “appeared outside the scope of his training and experience,” PCPD reported. The nurse likely would have received protection through Florida’s Good Samaritan Act, which states in part that any person “who gratuitously and in good faith renders emergency care or treatment” in an emergency situation “shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of such care or treatment.” However, the investigation was closed because the injured man declined to pursue charges.
PCPD encouraged citizens to dial 911 immediately in an emergency situation and that “those taking action should be within the scope of their training and experience.”
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