EMT accused of ignoring dying NYC woman is killed

bstone

bstone

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Thats really sad. What is most disturbing is the publics comments on the yahoo link you provided. Some are hoping the other EMT dispatcher involved is also murdered. I am not sure if everyone remembers that story being posted here a while back... but there was a lot more to the story and clearly no EMS personal should be executed on the street because of shaky call. (if thats what this was about) Disturbing, very disturbing.
 
Remember public perception. They perceive that we should all be medical professionals that can save everybody like on TV using common items such as pens, duct tape, and pocket knives. They see no distinction between dispatcher and Paramedic. So when they hear or see someone that looks like they are a Paramedic they expect them to do more than call for an ambulance.

All during history you find cases where public perception has led to mob mentality and action. I hope this is not the case here.
 
It seems that his death was unrelated to the death of the woman.

I am slightly confused by the initial death of the woman, and the criminal investigation around that. I assume NYC is the same as NY State. In NY, we only have a duty to act if we are on duty, or off duty AND wearing something that associates you with EMS. (ie I have a duty to act if wearing my corps' t-shirt while off duty.) If he did not have a legal duty to act, there should be no charges.

But I assume since he was on a coffee break, he was probably uniformed (unless their dispatchers don't need uniforms), and probably a break is still technically 'on duty'

medic417 is right...its all about public perception though.
 
Wow, Those comment from the public make me sick to my stomach. It is a sad situation, but no one should be wishing death on others.
 
The EMT/dispatchers were in uniform at Metrotech Center. Metrotech Center is a huge complex of buildings which includes the HQ for the FDNY including the dispatch center for the entire city. They went downstairs from their building nto an outdoor food court with an Au Bon PAir. They were having coffee when a pregnant woman started having seizures. One of them called for an ambulance. Neither did anymore. The public perceived this as indifference. They viewed this as all they could do without equipment.
 
All they could do without equipment AND being EMTs. Heck, even if they had equipment they couldn't stop the seizures.
 
Linuss said:
All they could do without equipment AND being EMTs. Heck, even if they had equipment they couldn't stop the seizures.
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You know public perception would have been that they were heroes had they just walked over and stayed by her while they waited for the Paramedics to come. They still actually did nothing for her but dial 911 but public perception would have been that they were trying to save her. Honestly all they could have done was make sure she did not hit anything during seizure activity. So lesson for us is be aware that the public sees us so make every appearance of doing something.
 
medic417 said:
You know public perception would have been that they were heroes had they just walked over and stayed by her while they waited for the Paramedics to come. They still actually did nothing for her but dial 911 but public perception would have been that they were trying to save her. Honestly all they could have done was make sure she did not hit anything during seizure activity. So lesson for us is be aware that the public sees us so make every appearance of doing something.
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I thought she died from asthma, not a seizure?

either way, reality is not really the question (ie, what the EMTs could have done and should have done), but rather what the public expects EMTs to do (save everyone's life, despite not having any equipment, or if the damage was too significant for anything to have changed the outcome)
 
DrParasite said:
I thought she died from asthma, not a seizure?

either way, reality is not really the question (ie, what the EMTs could have done and should have done), but rather what the public expects EMTs to do (save everyone's life, despite not having any equipment, or if the damage was too significant for anything to have changed the outcome)
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exactly how do you expect change the public's view? This is not in our power to do.
 
wow..........:o
That is so sad, to have it happen the way it did.
 
firecoins said:
exactly how do you expect change the public's view? This is not in our power to do.
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Actually asthma, seizure, heart attack, what ever it was had they just went and held the patients hand while waiting for the ambulance the public would have viewed them in a positive light.
 
medic417 said:
Actually asthma, seizure, heart attack, what ever it was had they just went and held the patients hand while waiting for the ambulance the public would have viewed them in a positive light.
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These people were screwed from the get go. As long as the pregnant woman died, they were going to get un trouble. If not that they didn't help but they screwed up something even if it was just holding her hand. This situation was dependant on the pregnant woman dying. If she didn't die, we would never have heard a thing.
 
firecoins said:
These people were screwed from the get go. As long as the pregnant woman died, they were going to get un trouble. If not that they didn't help but they screwed up something even if it was just holding her hand. This situation was dependant on the pregnant woman dying. If she didn't die, we would never have heard a thing.
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Perception would have been better. Doing nothing and looking like doing nothing are 2 different things in view of the public.
 
There is no guarantee that the public wouldn't have still gone after them if all they did was hold her hand. They may not have, but it is very possible they still would have been attacked by the general public/news media.

The police are now saying that this incident is totally unrelated. I agree that the comments on the news stories are sickening. Reading things like that honestly scare me in this day and age; your actions can be perfectly legal and ethical, but if someone disagrees and it gets on youtube, twitter, facebook or whatever you are screwed. You can't defend yourself, and there is no reasoning with the internet.
 
medic417 said:
Perception would have been better. Doing nothing and looking like doing nothing are 2 different things in view of the public.
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The perception would have been that they did something wrong or failed to do something but hold her hand.
 
firecoins said:
The perception would have been that they did something wrong or failed to do something but hold her hand.
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So literal. Hold hand = act busy like you are trying to help patient. Perception would be better.
 
medic417 said:
So literal. Hold hand = act busy like you are trying to help patient. Perception would be better.
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The pregnant woman dying will affect the perception more than acting busy. Acting busy will say they didn't ignore her but her death will say they did something wrong, possibly criminal. Meaning either way they are screwed.
 
medic417 said:
Perception would have been better. Doing nothing and looking like doing nothing are 2 different things in view of the public.
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That easily describes a large chunk of EMS calls. Doing very little of substance but looking professional and busy in the process.
 
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