US woman denied CPR 'didn't want intervention'

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An elderly American woman who died after a nurse at her rest home refused to provide CPR had chosen to live in a facility without medical staff and wanted to pass away without life-prolonging intervention, her family says.

Lorraine Bayless' family said in a statement that they do not plan to sue the independent living facility where the 87-year-old woman died last week.

A nurse refused to cooperate with a 911 dispatcher who was pleading for someone to start CPR. Her response has prompted multiple state and local investigations at Glenwood Gardens in Bakersfield.

Bayless did not have a "do not resuscitate" order on file at the home, city fire officials have said.

During the dramatic 7-minute, 16-second exchange, the dispatcher insisted the nurse perform CPR or find someone willing to do it. She declined.

Glenwood Gardens is an independent living facility, and company officials say no medical staff is employed there.

The woman who identified herself as a nurse was working at the facility as a resident services director, the company said in a release.

"We understand that the 911 tape of this event has caused concern, but our family knows that mom had full knowledge of the limitations of Glenwood Gardens and is at peace," the statement read.

- AP