This was their attempt to help. The O was required to evaluate his condition. They did that and concluded that, there was nothing they could do. It's that simple.
" That view is a little extreme."
No it is not. It's called Freedom.
Sorry chap. Freedom doesn't absolve you of your responsibility to your fellow man. I don't know enough to outright judge these climbers on this particular incident but some of the general comments made on this thread sounds like libertarians on crack (which I assume most want the right to smoke as well).