Earlier this year, a video surfaced showing EMTs in Rochester, NY, asking Julian Coleman to leave an ambulance before he collapsed and later died. His estate has filed a lawsuit against American Medical Response and the City of Rochester, alleging negligence and violating his Fourteenth Amendment rights.
The incident occurred on November 30, 2023. The video shows Coleman being asked to leave the ambulance after he reportedly demanded oxygen and appeared panicked. Despite his claims of not being able to breathe, police were called. Coleman eventually sat on a nearby bench, fell off, and remained on the ground for two minutes before being surrounded by police and first responders. He was later diagnosed with anoxic brain injury and died on December 15, 2023.
Attorney Stephen Schwarz, representing Coleman’s family, argued that the ambulance workers and officers failed to follow proper procedures, resulting in the tragedy. According to Schwarz, experts believe Coleman’s death could have been prevented if he had received oxygen in time. The lawsuit claims the defendants refused to provide necessary medical care, thereby violating Coleman’s civil rights.
Following the incident, AMR’s parent company, GMR, initiated an internal investigation, leading to one ambulance team member being fired and two others undergoing training. Mayor Evans stated he was unsure why police were involved. The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages for Coleman’s physical and emotional suffering and subsequent death.
Link: RochesterFirst
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