© 2025 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Man Died at VA Hospital in Ann Arbor; Nurse Wrong About Resuscitation

VA building
Courtesy
/
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare building

Investigators say a man died at a VA hospital in Michigan after a nurse mistakenly believed he didn't want to be resuscitated in case of an emergency.

The death occurred late last year at the hospital in Ann Arbor. The man's name and age weren't disclosed in a report released Tuesday by the inspector general at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The man, who had surgery to bypass a blocked artery, complained about chest pain and nausea. A nurse left the room to get an electrocardiogram machine.

When the nurse returned, the man was unresponsive with abnormal breathing.

The report says the nurse told staff that the man had a do-not-resuscitate order. That was a mistake.

Investigators say it's unclear whether resuscitation efforts would have saved him.

Support Local Journalism in Mid-Michigan

Help WKAR reach 200 donations by June 20 to fund more of the fact-based reporting mid-Michigan relies on. When we hit the goal, MSU Federal Credit Union will unlock a $10,000 gift in support of your public media station.

Be one of the 200. Give now.