Medics Caught on Tape Allegedly Decided Disabled Man Not Worth Saving

The Times ^ | 12/31/2008 | Staff

[freedomlover]

[Secret Agent Man]

Some animals are more equal than others.

Besides, it was probably around tea time anyway.

[Secret Agent Man]

And the utter ‘rules are rules’ stupidity of the DMV.

[the invisib1e hand]

Welcome to socialized medicine.

Welcome to the Culture of Death, without which socialized medicine would not be possibe.

I'd wait for some conformation before I got too enraged at this particular incident.

[Enchante]

"they might in fact have been doing everything in their power to save him"

Actually, while the article does not make every detail explicit, it does sound like they decided NOT to resuscitate and to LIE about the situation:

"They are said to have discussed what to tell ambulance control and decided to say that Baker was already dead when they got there."

[Spok]

Slippery Slope Alert

[RobRoy]

“I’m feeling better!”

[DesertRhino]

Thank goodness the nazis didnt conquer England, huh?

Sometimes i wonder what we *really* accomplished by saving them. They are no longer free, free speech is dead, sharia law is moving in, religious freedom is dead there, they live under constant surveillance, they are pushing for prosecution of global warming denyers, their guns are confiscated, and Iranians in motor launches can defeat RN warships.

Englands only purpose now is to serve as an object lesson for us. When they come for your guns, and restrict speech, its time to fight.

[null and void]

Not limited to socialized medicine. I was in the ER with my dad last night and the dr wanted to know about advanced directives. I told him that if dad coded he had to bring him back, or at least try.

The Dr’s response? “Really!?” in a surprised and disapproving tone.

I locked eyes with him and said “Really.”

End of conversation.

This guy was tacky enough to hold this discussion in front of my dad.

grrrrr.

[ex91B10]

The source said that the two men were allegedly first heard commenting on the untidy state of the house and then saying that it was not worth bothering to resuscitate Baker.

Beyond belief.

[Texas Eagle]

Obama style health care. Coming to your country soon.

[Quickgun]

That was my EXACT thought before I even came to the replies!

[antiRepublicrat]

I think they could find better ways to deal with the stress other than debating whether or not the victim should be saved.

The harder and more stressful the job, the worse the humor. I remember cadences in the Army, "Napalm napalm sticks like glue, sticks to kids and their mommies too." There are variations of the same.

It's a "Walk a mile in his shoes" thing.

[unkus]

ping

[isom35]

just think, someday these medics will be 59...

[samtheman]

Thank goodness the nazis didnt conquer England, huh?

Sometimes i wonder what we *really* accomplished by saving them. They are no longer free, free speech is dead, sharia law is moving in, religious freedom is dead there, they live under constant surveillance, they are pushing for prosecution of global warming denyers, their guns are confiscated, and Iranians in motor launches can defeat RN warships.

Englands only purpose now is to serve as an object lesson for us. When they come for your guns, and restrict speech, its time to fight.

And citizens get prosecuted for defending themselves (as best they can, unarmed) while criminals go unprosecuted.

And then, of course, there's the whole "health" system.

[Vermont Lt]

Oh, and this doesn’t happen in the US?

Come on.....

Talk to some cops and EMTs. While it might not be this bad, sometimes it is really bad.

[Yorlik803]

I used to Volunteer for a EMS. It was good work and very educational as well as rewarding. And yes, we got paid nothing for the work.
Volunteerism is dying since families have to work two jobs to make ends meet and pay Taxes. If you live in a boro that has a Volunteer EMS or Fire Dept, Remember that they are giving up their free time to help others.
PS...Most of the Volunteer EMTS and Paramedics I worked with were Conservative, same with members of the Fire Depts we worked with. Funny how the left has time to save the whales but refrain from helping their fellow man in time of need.

[clee1]

If you only realized the futility of resuscitation efforts. The percentages of recovery are really bad, and those that we CAN save, usually end up brain-damaged and die a short time later anyway.

Full life-support measures are only effective long-term on young, healthy people that have an accident that caused their code.

[buckalfa]

I share your revulsion as to how this was handled, but the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) actually requires hospitals to question patients and/or their families as to whether or not a living will or advanced directive has been completed and,if so, are the papers on file with the facility. Should have been handled by nursing with the family in a private setting away from the patient.