Man Refuses Lifesaving Treatment?!【Part 198】

[00:00:00]The man was drenched in sweat. His eyes were bulging, yet he refused treatment.

[00:00:03]The paramedics were confused, while the man blamed his co-worker for calling 911. He kept mumbling toward the sky.

[00:00:08]His co-worker said he often prayed like this. The paramedics quickly understood.

[00:00:11]>> Jacob, are you declining treatment for religious reasons?

[00:00:15]>> But department policy required them to perform a basic assessment once they [music] responded. Not wanting any trouble, the man agreed to a quick check. They soon discovered he had pulmonary edema. Without treatment, he would almost certainly die. But the man believed it was God's will. Without a patient's consent, paramedics cannot provide treatment. So all they could do was try to persuade him.

[00:00:31]>> This is the last minute of your life.

[00:00:33]Let [music] us save you. All I need is a nod.

[00:00:36]Okay. Okay, that's a nod. Get a line in.

[00:00:38]Come on.

[00:00:39]>> you sure that was actually a yes? The man closed his eyes and turned his head away, looking completely resigned to his fate. He refused to cooperate with the treatment. And then, the worst happened.

[00:00:47][music] The man went into ventricular fibrillation. The paramedics laid him on the ground and immediately began treatment. After receiving medication, [music] he finally started breathing on his own again. But they had no idea what consequences were waiting for them.

[00:00:57]Soon, their supervisors arrived. For acting without clear consent, they were disciplined and suspended for 3 months.

[00:01:02][music] So, in a situation like that, should they really have just stood by and done nothing?