Legal news for Philadelphia personal injury attorneys – Man dies after waiting 30 hours for ambulance, workers cited for lack of compassion
PA EMS workers suspended after man dies during snow storm
Pittsburgh, PA – At a news conference on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Michael Huss announced the suspension of four EMS workers as a result of the February 7, 2010 death of a man who waited 30 hours for transport, as reported by WPXI.com.
Curtis Mitchell, 50, died after he and his girlfriend made 10 calls to 911 over a 30-hour period seeking help for his abdominal pain. During the 30 hours in which the couple were calling for help, a winter storm managed to drop 20 inches of snow.
Huss played a recorded conversation of the paramedics, where they are heard saying, “What do they think, this is a taxi service?”
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl reprimanded their lack of compassion with “That type of attitude and demeanor is not acceptable and the message needs to be sent that we are public servants payed by the public…I expect better than this.”
Paramedics union President Anthony Weinmann said that three ambulances aborted calls to Mitchell’s home, but under the direction of EMS chiefs and dispatchers. He further defends his workers with, “There was no snow protocol. There was no plan…and no one knew what the rules and regulations were at that time.”
Mitchell’s widow is debating filing a civil suit against the city. She told investigators that she believes her late husband would still be alive if medics had of responded promptly.
Legal News Reporter: Tara Monks – Legal news for Philadelphia personal injury attorneys.