IMHO this is a classic example of a Transient Ischemic Attack, a TIA. It is all too often the precursor to a full blown stroke. Having been the chief of a large pre-hospital advanced life support service I know full well not to put much stock in the reports of a medical incident in the mainstream press.
It is simply not acceptable that a patient would present with the classic symptoms of a TIA and the pre-hospital responders would not recognize it as such and INSIST that she be taken immediately to an ER. Faced with that situation it’s usually possible to explain the situation to the LEO at the scene and get an order to transport.
I really, really hate to criticize or second guess the response of the personnel at the scene of a medical emergency, but the consequences of this handling, if reported correctly, are big, much bigger than the risk of unwarranted criticism.
My guess would be the first responders handled it correctly and subsequent reporting failed to document the care.
There are cases when a person will refuse treatment because they are afraid what the hospital will discover, normally drug use. But, there are other issues such as homosexuality, dirty underwear, or abuse of some kind etc.
Billy Mays is an example of that. He was severely knocked on the head but refused any attempt to get him to go to the hospital. He died later that night and it was discovered he was using cocaine.
Whenever a patient with an obvious sever injury, vehemently and irrationally refuses treatment and checkout, I automatically think ‘drugs’.
Of course in the military you don’t have to ask, you just wrap them up and go. With civilians it is a little more tricky.
Still, why she wouldn’t want to go herself just for her own peace of mind? She said she was terrified. I dunno?