A cancer center nurse has been left quadriplegic after her colleagues waited seven minutes to start CPR when she suffered a cardiac arrest.
Andrea Morris was left in the life-changing condition after falling ill during her shift at City of Hope in Upland.
But instead of starting chest compressions, her boss, nursing supervisor Karen Serna, began filming her while calling 911.
The haunting video shows Morris moaning in pain as she struggled to breathe as Serna repeatedly and mistakenly tells the dispatcher Morris is suffering a seizure.
Her lawyers say that lack of action led to the formerly fit and active mom-of-three winding up in a wheelchair for life and requiring 24/7 care.
A cancer center nurse has been left quadriplegic after her colleagues waited seven minutes to start CPR when she suffered a cardiac arrest
Andrea Morris (pictured with her kids) was left in the life-changing condition after falling ill during her shift at City of Hope in Upland
Morris initially believed she was suffering with Covid-19 when she became unwell on May 14, 2020
'There was a defibrillator very close by, oxygen very close by and they just didn't react,' Morris' sister Pam Bertino told NBC Los Angeles.
'It's the biggest mystery of the whole thing. She was dying, her lips turned blue and then purple.
'It's really scary to think that your boss would take a videotape of you essentially going into cardiac arrest and having agonal breathing instead of reacting and giving CPR.'
Morris was only saved when her friend and fellow nurse Alma Harris arrived on the scene seven minutes later and began CPR.
'All health care workers should be prepared for basic life support,' she said.
Morris suffered her emergency on May 14, 2020, after initially complaining to her boss symptoms she thought could be Covid.
She is now seeking compensation to cover her extensive medical bills, which have still not been covered despite selling her home to move back in with her parents and cashing in her 401(k).
Her disability is so severe that she cannot take a sip of water unaided, with her annual care bill topping $200,000.
Haunting video shows Morris moaning in pain as she struggled to breathe as her boss repeatedly and mistakenly tells the dispatcher Morris is suffering a seizure
Her lawyers say that lack of action led to the formerly fit and active mom-of-three winding up in a wheelchair for life and requiring 24/7 care. Pictured: Morris with her sister Pam Bertino
Bertino said her sister has lost her livelihood and sense of self since the incident
At an ongoing hearing, her attorney Keith Moore asked Serna whether it was a 'missed opportunity' to save her which she denied.
'There were six different chances she had to recognize, do something, but she did nothing,' More said.
He added witness testimony shows there were several other medical staff present who also failed to act.
Harris also testified that she felt afraid to speak out about what happened and even told the judge that a City of Hope attorney had hit her chair to try to silence her.
Morris only saw the video of her emergency for the first time at the hearing, she said it made her 'so sad.'
Her family have been left furious her compensation claim was denied.
'There's this woman that was an athlete, she's lost her livelihood, she's lost herself as she knew it,' Bertino said.
'This happened on your watch, you know you have insurance. Please help this woman that helped your patients, that helped your business.'
Morris is now fighting a workers' compensation claim with City of Hope cancer center
Her care costs around $200,000 every year and is required 24/7 since her injuries mean she cannot even take a sip of water unaided
Her lawyers say that staff at the hospital missed opportunities to help her by misidentifying her cardiac arrest as a seizure
Her family have since set up a GoFundMe to help cover the spiraling medical bills after Morris sold her home and still was not able to pay them
'We are deeply saddened by the serious medical event Ms. Morris suffered in 2020, and our hearts go out to her and her family' City of Hope said in a statement.
'The health and wellness of our employees and all those we serve is City of Hope's top priority, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe work environment for our staff and clinical teams. We cannot comment specifically on this ongoing case.'
Morris' family have since set up a GoFundMe to cover her medical bills.