New York health officials issued an extreme guideline last week instructing first responders not to bother resuscitating anyone found with...
New York health officials issued an extreme guideline last week instructing first responders not to bother resuscitating anyone found without a pulse in the midst of hospitals overloaded with coronavirus patients.
Paramedics in the state had previously been told to spend up to 20 minutes trying to revive people found in cardiac arrest, the New York Post reports.
According to a New York Health Department memo that was issued last week, the changes were 'necessary during the COVID-19 response to protect the health and safety of EMS providers by limiting their exposure, conserve resources, and ensure optimal use of equipment to save the greatest number of lives.'
The guidelines have angered first-responders across the state.
According to a New York Health Department memo that was issued last week, the changes were 'necessary during the COVID-19 response to protect the health and safety of EMS providers by limiting their exposure, conserve resources, and ensure optimal use of equipment to save the greatest number of lives'
'They're not giving people a second chance to live anymore,' said Oren Barzilay, head of the city's union which represents EMTs and paramedics. 'Our job is to bring patients back to life. This guideline takes that away from us.'
New York currently has 251,690 cases of those who have tested positive with the coronavirus. Some 14,828 people have died.
The lack of 20-minute effort could impact those number.
'Now you don't get 20 minutes of CPR if you have no rhythm,' a veteran FDNY Emergency Medical Services worker said, referring to when paramedics arrive on the scene. 'They simply let you die.'
The paramedic did say that 'a small percentage' - roughly three or four out of 100 patients - are actually brought back to life through CPR and other intervention methods.
Following the release of the health department's memo, the FDNY released a letter on Friday saying that 'the NYC 911 system will continue to maintain a higher lever of care'
Following the release of the health department's memo, the FDNY released a letter on Friday saying that 'the NYC 911 system will continue to maintain a higher lever of care.'
According to the state Health Department, the new guidelines have been in use 'in many areas of the US as well as other locations throughout the world.'
'These changes are based on standards widely agreed upon by the physician leaders of EMS Regional Medical Control Systems across NYS and the Medical Standards Committee of the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council,' a department rep told The Post in a statement.
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