NationStates Jolt Archive

So this gay guy has a heart attack and the chief of police in a small West Virginia town allegedly prevented his friend from performing CPR on the man because he might have AIDS. Of course we all know that only gays get AIDS because it's a plague sent by God to punish them.:rolleyes:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/02/cpr.lawsuit.ap/index.html

So this gay guy has a heart attack and the chief of police in a small West Virginia town allegedly prevented his friend from performing CPR on the man because he might have AIDS. Of course we all know that only gays get AIDS because it's a plague sent by God to punish them.:rolleyes:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/02/cpr.lawsuit.ap/index.html

Even if he would have had AIDS, how would the virus be transferred by performing a CPR?

Even if he would have had AIDS, how would the virus be transferred by performing a CPR?

Apparently, gay scientists have discovered how to make the virus airborn :rolleyes:

So this gay guy has a heart attack and the chief of police in a small West Virginia town allegedly prevented his friend from performing CPR on the man because he might have AIDS. Of course we all know that only gays get AIDS because it's a plague sent by God to punish them.:rolleyes:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/02/cpr.lawsuit.ap/index.html

I think that's pretty awful, although, to be fair, I'm not sure a law suit is going to work - CPR is actually pretty rubbish at reviving people, so it's unlikely he would have survived anyway.

I think that's pretty awful, although, to be fair, I'm not sure a law suit is going to work - CPR is actually pretty rubbish at reviving people, so it's unlikely he would have survived anyway.

I'm sure a lawsuit about a police officer preventing the revival of a man because of his sexual orientation would get settled out of court by the department long before it hit a court room.

sheriff bubbba, "i don't care ifin he is in that thar cardiac arrest, you aint allowed to kiss another man on the court house lawn".

Even if he would have had AIDS, how would the virus be transferred by performing a CPR?
Maybe through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? A few years ago an anonymous junior doctor kept a weekly diary in The Guardian newspaper, and he recounted watching a heroin addict inject an overdose on board an Underground train. Everyone in the carriage, himself included, watched him die. He explained that the guy was frothing at the mouth and he wasn't taking any chances.

And that's a medical professional writing in a newspaper.

It's kinda harsh, but the policeman in this story was caught between a rock and a hard place - on the one hand a lack of medical training (I doubt small town cops go on paramedic courses), on the other hand a duty of care not just to the victim but to all others in the vicinity. If he had a suspicion that the guy had a transmissible disease, but was ignorant of the facts necessary to make an informed judgement, then it's a tough call and he was screwed.

I wouldn't like to be in the guy's shoes, and am not going to be quick to blame him.

Apparently, gay scientists have discovered how to make the virus airborn :rolleyes:
And yet, as an EMT for some reason I need a special barrier/mouthguard to prevent salivia-to-saliva contact when doing CPR. Hmmm. Could it be that transmission of bodily fluids could occur during CPR? :rolleyes:
http://store1.yimg.com/I/yhst-74749178710412_1887_31839583

If you don't understand the procedure, please STFU with your snide comments.

Well I believe CPR is only for people with brains.

And yet, as an EMT for some reason I need a special barrier/mouthguard to prevent salivia-to-saliva contact when doing CPR. Hmmm. Could it be that transmission of bodily fluids could occur during CPR? :rolleyes:
http://store1.yimg.com/I/yhst-74749178710412_1887_31839583

If you don't understand the procedure, please STFU with your snide comments.
yeah but he was preventing someone else from continuing cpr not starting it himself.

yeah but he was preventing someone else from continuing cpr not starting it himself.
The duty of care thing. He's a police officer, he must prevent others from endangering themselves, where reasonably possible.

You can't get AIDS from performing CPR. Cripes!

http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/askdoctor.html

If you don't understand the procedure, please STFU with your snide comments.

Maybe you could point to an instance of the transmission of AIDS through CPR.

Even if he would have had AIDS, how would the virus be transferred by performing a CPR?
Mebbe one o' them thar moskeeter's mighta done bit 'im. Then that moskeeter mighta bit the straight guy. Yessiree. Mighta.

I hope Sherriff Bubba gets hit with Depraved Indifference.

And yet, as an EMT for some reason I need a special barrier/mouthguard to prevent salivia-to-saliva contact when doing CPR. Hmmm. Could it be that transmission of bodily fluids could occur during CPR? :rolleyes:
http://store1.yimg.com/I/yhst-74749178710412_1887_31839583

If you don't understand the procedure, please STFU with your snide comments.

It's an insurance paranoia guard.

In order for a mouth-to-mouth transfer to occur, both you AND the victim would have to have open wounds in your mouths. Then there's a chance. A slight chance.

That is, IF the man is even HIV positive to begin with.

Maybe you could point to an instance of the transmission of AIDS through CPR.
There is always a first time.

Should he have stopped the person who accepted the risk? No. But the risk is real, if remote.

And yet, as an EMT for some reason I need a special barrier/mouthguard to prevent salivia-to-saliva contact when doing CPR. Hmmm. Could it be that transmission of bodily fluids could occur during CPR? :rolleyes:
http://store1.yimg.com/I/yhst-74749178710412_1887_31839583

If you don't understand the procedure, please STFU with your snide comments.
You can't get aids from saliva either...

I mean, if you're in a job where there's a good chance you're going to have to perform cpr then that would be a good thing to have as you could catch other things, but you can't get aids or anything like that from cpr.

There is always a first time.

Should he have stopped the person who accepted the risk? No. But the risk is real, if remote.

The risk is zero if either of them does not have an open wound on their mouth. So, as long as any of the multiple people present did not have a cut on their lip, tongue, or mouth, they could give the man CPR without worry of transmission of AIDS. If the man dying even had AIDS, that is.