Scenario: A 38 year old patient came to the emergency department after several days of cold symptoms. He now has a runny nose, mild fever, and cough. He has not seen his private physician. He was triaged by the ED nurse as non-emergent and sent to wait in the lobby since all non-emergent beds were full.
Two hours later he collapses in the lobby from a heart attack and dies.
1. Suggest anything the nurse could have done differently in this situation, then describe any provision that may have prevented this death from occurring. Finally, what is the liability to the facility in this situation?