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Resident Dies After Facility Staff Wait 13 Minutes to Start CPR
26 Mar
Summary
- Facility failed to start CPR for 13 minutes after a resident collapsed.
- A state investigation found multiple rule violations at the Denver facility.
- The resident's widow is devastated and questioning the staff's inaction.
A state investigation has concluded that The Argyle assisted living facility in Denver failed to adequately respond to a resident's medical emergency, leading to his death.
On January 6, 2026, 73-year-old Robert Dutkevitch collapsed on the facility's smoking patio. Surveillance video showed him slumping from his wheelchair at approximately 8:32 p.m. and remaining on the ground for about eight minutes before another resident alerted staff. Staff members arrived and confirmed he had no pulse, yet they waited an additional five minutes before initiating CPR.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment classified these failures as "immediate jeopardy," citing the 13-minute delay from collapse to the start of CPR. Regulators found that staff did not promptly provide lifesaving measures, with one staff member reportedly citing illness as a reason for not performing CPR. The death was later classified as natural, with acute coronary syndrome and atherosclerosis as the causes.
Further investigation revealed deficiencies in monitoring the outdoor smoking area, as required by state regulations. The facility administrator admitted to having "no official process" for monitoring the area, citing insufficient staffing. The CDPHE report also highlighted gaps in staff training and preparedness, with some employees reporting a lack of awareness on how to respond to unresponsive residents.
Dutkevitch's widow expressed her devastation, questioning why staff did not act immediately and believing her husband might have survived if CPR had been administered sooner. Her attorney indicated a lawsuit is likely, citing the prolonged response time and apparent lack of awareness of the emergency.
Following the incident, The Argyle was fined $2,500 and ordered to correct deficiencies. The facility states these issues were addressed by February 12, 2026, and the "immediate jeopardy" designation was lifted. The facility has since implemented new policies, including no longer accepting residents who smoke and closing the smoking patio at 10 p.m. daily.
