Family notified for 2nd time in two days that man died. Victim of erroneous DOA determination in Prince George’s County dies a day later at the hospital.

 STATter911.com previous coverage of this story

Written by David Beardsley, WUSA9.com:

The man who was mistakenly determined to be dead by paramedics on Friday in Prince George’s County has died, his daughter told The Washington Post.

Laverne Waters said her father George Waters, 70, died Saturday night at Prince George’s Hospital Center.

Laverne Waters added that after she was mistakenly told on Friday that her father had died, she and her mother began notifying relatives.

The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department is limiting the duties of two career paramedics pending an investigation into how they walked away from the unconscious Waters at about noon on Friday after saying he was dead.

An hour and a half after the two medics left the Waters’ Glenarden Parkway home, forensics investigators saw signs of life in him and again called for EMS help. This time he was taken to the hospital.

It is not known if the delay had an adverse impact on Waters’ condition.

A quality assurance review will examine whether proper medical protocols were followed by the first two medics before they said Waters was dead. A separate investigation is underway to determine if the crew followed PGFD standard operating procedures and general orders.

“We will ensure a complete and thorough review and, if warranted, take whatever corrective action is called for to avoid any reoccurrence,” said department spokesman Mark Brady.

In January, a man was presumed dead at the scene of a fiery crash on I-95 in Laurel. A short time later, as crews worked to remove the body from the wreckage, firefighters determined he was alive. A review of that incident led to remedial training for a volunteer member of the department.

Also on STATter911 …

• UPDATED: One Girl Dies, One Gravely Injured After Prince George’s County house fire. Two other children, parents & firefighter hurt in early morning Brentwood blaze. – January 19, 2011
• Investigation after death of elderly woman in Washington, DC. WTOP Radio reports medic on leave after failing to accompany patient to hospital. – November 29, 2011
• Fatal house fire in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Chief says response plan worked after 54-inch water main break on Beltway. – January 24, 2011
• UPDATE – Peabody, MA Firefighter James Rice dies battling Hancock Street fire. Fireground audio & chief’s press conference. – December 23, 2011