Two emergency medical technicians have been suspended, as the city Fire Department investigates allegations that the duo chose not to help a dying pregnant woman just steps from their Brooklyn headquarters.
Eutisha Revee Rennix, 25, collapsed while working at a restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn on December 9.
Rennix’s co-workers say the two off-duty EMTs, six-year veteran Jason Green and 4.5-year veteran Melissa Jackson, were buying bagels at the shop. They responded to pleas to help Rennix by saying others should call 911.
A Long Island College Hospital emergency crew arrived minutes later but did not have the equipment to revive Rennix.
Rennix’s child, who was due in March, died after her mother. She also leaves behind a three-year-old son.
The FDNY said Monday that the two EMTs have been suspended without pay, pending further investigation.
When asked if there was a case of burn out in the department, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said their actions were unacceptable no matter what.
“Burn out? They were sitting there having coffee, how can they be burnt out?” said the mayor. “They’re human beings. Somebody’s dying down the street and they say help them, and they just sat there. There’s no excuse whatsoever, as far as I can see. I don’t know what kind of burn out you can have.”
Bloomberg added that the first responsibility of all EMS and FDNY workers is to save lives.
Jeff Samerson, a representative from the EMT and paramedics union told NY1 that the EMTs followed protocol.
“[Jackson] called 911. She didn’t have an ambulance. She didn’t have equipment. She does not work in the field as an active EMT in an ambulance,” he said. “She is a dispatcher. She works as an emergency medical dispatcher. [Green] is also a dispatcher. These are people that are not in the field, that have not had patient contact in years. And they did the best they could.”
But a source within the union told WCBSTV, “If the charges are true, why should we go out on a limb to defend these two and hurt our own good reputation?”
One EMT who did not wish to be identified said the paramedic community is disgusted by the alleged inaction by Green and Jackson.
The Long Island College Hospital emergency crew is also being investigated.
(Source: NY1 / WCBSTV)
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9 Responses
it shows the sad state of the world when human life is worth less to people than a bagel.
And now people wanna know why we have Hatzoloh
They are not to blame. They were just following along the union culture within which they work. Did they ever receive specific training that their “mandatory” coffee/lunch break is secondary when there is a life threatening situation? Probably not! Anyone who ever dealt with union workers, especially those working for the City Government, knows how seriously they take their “mandatory breaks”.
The City should have Hatzoloh train their EMS in the importance & techniques of moving quickly to save lives and also sensitivity to their patients.
If the allegations are true, then they are to blame. This is not the “union culture within which they work.” Most EMTs take their job seriously. EMS is one of the few unions that does not have “mandatory” lunch breaks [although these 2 were Dispatchers who may have scheduled breaks]. The union will defend them (that is the role of unions). However, the rank & file of EMS are disgusted with this (trust me, I work with them every day).
Having worked city ems this does not surprise me the least. Now I wouldn’t say that all would act in that manner, but anyone who is familiar with a city ems would definitly know a handfull of individuals who would say “thank the lord I’m off duty,please pass the juice”.
They should be tried for man slaughter.
#4 Your comments are well said and right on the mark. What we have here is the extremly poor decision made by two individuals to ignore the plight of another human in distress when maybe they could have helped. Yes they will be afforded union representation but I hope that whatever that representation does to help them will not succeed because they really should not be part of the FDNY EMS. The entire FDNY EMS system should not be faulted here because of the calus actions of two indivduals…very simply put “shame on them” they will have to live with the results of their in-actions.
Boruch Dayan Emmes. For the niftar, zikhronah livrakha, aleha ha-shalom.
What’s the chidush? We all know these “types” of people. Wether they be EMS or nurses, or hospital orderlies.
I think it’s high time that our hospitals do something about it. And if they don’t then we should make an issue about it.
V’hameivin yovin.