Mom dies after 911 operator ignores boy's call

[AlphaFrog]

I was under the (obviously wrong, according to this) impression that some sort of "help" - Police, Fire, Medic - HAD to be sent to every call. Although, that may have been an older rule.

[DeltAlum]

Yeah, I guess the operators are given some descretion.

It must be terribly expensive for a big city to deal with this number of false and/or malicious reports -- although, on the face of it, I don't see how a city could ignore any call for help.

Catch 22.

I've heard a number of cases -- including at least one here in the Denver area -- of 911 operator "foulups," although not all resulted in fatalities.

This particular one screams for media attention considering the mother/five year old child relationship.

I think I read that a suit has been filed.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
I was under the (obviously wrong, according to this) impression that some sort of "help" - Police, Fire, Medic - HAD to be sent to every call. Although, that may have been an older rule.

I thought so also.

A few years ago we had a problem with people calling 911 and getting busy signals which, sadly, resulted in the death of a young woman on Long Island. Meanwhile, people were clogging 911 with calls that their cable was out. In NYC we have 311 which is a non-emergency information line to help alleviate the congestion.

The few times I called 911, I had fast responses. Fortunately, I never encountered this inept 911 operator. I agree with James' post especially that she should be fired.

[enigma_AKA]

So now, Fieger's (any native Detroiter's here?--you should know what I'm thinking) on the case--he's filing a wrongful death suit on behalf of the deceased's family:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...=2006604100335

I'm interested in seeing how this all turns out.

enigma_AKA

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
In NYC we have 311 which is a non-emergency information line to help alleviate the congestion.

We have this in Charlotte now as well. I called 911 once on my way home from work to report that traffic lights were out at a major intersection but no one ever picked up.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
Meanwhile, people were clogging 911 with calls that their cable was out.

[honeychile]

It's official - a lawsuit has been filed. I'll post the link when I have a little more time.

Here's the link.

[DeltAlum]

I called Aurora 911 a few months ago when a neighbor thought he was having a heart attack.

The call was very professionally handled.

The first responders (a Paramedic Engine Company) missed seeing us on the first pass, so I called again and they stayed on the line with me and talked them in to our location.

For the most part, 911 is a great system -- especially enhanced 911 where they can trace your call and location in case you can't talk or something -- or use it to alert residents in case of an evacuation, etc.

One funny story. A few years ago, we bought a new "wireless" phone system for our house and I got a call from local 911 in the middle of the night asking if everything was OK, because they had received a call from our phone number, with onbody on the line. The operator told me that wireless phones of that model and era would sometimes began dialing ramdom numbers when the battery got too low.

I wondered if it had called Australia...

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
I thought so also.

A few years ago we had a problem with people calling 911 and getting busy signals which, sadly, resulted in the death of a young woman on Long Island. Meanwhile, people were clogging 911 with calls that their cable was out. In NYC we have 311 which is a non-emergency information line to help alleviate the congestion.

The few times I called 911, I had fast responses. Fortunately, I never encountered this inept 911 operator. I agree with James' post especially that she should be fired.

There was an article recently about this in Boston, and the number of 911 calls that come through that are not emergencies. Apparently, there are people who call because they can't get Red Sox tickets, or because they are frustrated by traffic.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I called Aurora 911 a few months ago when a neighbor thought he was having a heart attack.

Do you live in Aurora, DA?

[AGDee]

Originally posted by enigma_AKA
So now, Fieger's (any native Detroiter's here?--you should know what I'm thinking) on the case--he's filing a wrongful death suit on behalf of the deceased's family:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...=2006604100335

I'm interested in seeing how this all turns out.

enigma_AKA

Native Detroiter here. And yeah, I laughed when I heard it was Fieger. He'll grab any high profile case he can.. and this is exactly his cup of tea. They're asking for over a million dollars for wrongful death and mental distress of the boy.

I really can see both sides. If 1/3 of their calls are pranks and they sent resources to every one of those calls, it's likely others would die because the resources they needed were sent on a prank call. Perhaps prosecuting the prank calls and making the consequences well known would be a good idea? In the meantime, Detroit is so bankrupt that they've cut fire and police services...

[enigma_AKA]

Sidenote---Fieger's a$$ was quick to get on the Today Show, hunh? Always up to something...mostly getting paid....(not that he doesn't do good things-but let's face facts....)

Chief Cummings and the DPD has made a point, according to my parents, to reassure residents that the City still takes things seriously--especially in emergencies. But my mother said that, as you brought up, it is hard to believe that they can adequately assess and address the situation because they are so damn broke.

They can't *realistically* afford to do better with punishing prank callers or weeding out the real from the fake BUT you're right--SOMETHING has to be done. We'll just have to wait until after Fieger has made his grandstand.

enigma_AKA

Originally posted by AGDee
Native Detroiter here. And yeah, I laughed when I heard it was Fieger. He'll grab any high profile case he can.. and this is exactly his cup of tea. They're asking for over a million dollars for wrongful death and mental distress of the boy.

I really can see both sides. If 1/3 of their calls are pranks and they sent resources to every one of those calls, it's likely others would die because the resources they needed were sent on a prank call. Perhaps prosecuting the prank calls and making the consequences well known would be a good idea? In the meantime, Detroit is so bankrupt that they've cut fire and police services...

[Kevin]

The case will be thrown out unless Michigan has some sort of statute that says the city is liable here. Unless this attorney is unfamiliar with some very basic concepts covered in his law school's Torts I class, he's just doing this for the free publicity. It's sometimes tough to understand why anyone would take a lawyer like that seriously, but they do.

Generally speaking though, municipalities and their employees have absolute immunity in such cases.

[enigma_AKA]

Ktsnake,

This is exactly why Native Detroiters aren't neccessarily surprised at this filing. This case probably has little legal merit (though I admit that I don't know a lot about law---it does seem that the employees would have some type of protection, esp. emergency operatives) but this is, most likely, just for the profile and a ridiculous settlement that Detroit can't possibly afford. You have to know Fieger (re: Dr. Kevorkian and some other high profile cases) and his relationship with the metro Detroit community to fully grasp just how deep this can go...

enigma_AKA

Originally posted by ktsnake
Unless this attorney is unfamiliar with some very basic concepts covered in his law school's Torts I class, he's just doing this for the free publicity. It's sometimes tough to understand why anyone would take a lawyer like that seriously, but they do.

[ZTAngel]

---begin rant

I called 911 in Orlando and got a busy signal. When I called back, someone picked up after a few rings.

I called 911 here and an automated machine picked up that said, "An emergency operator will be with you shortly." Shortly my ass. It took almost 5 minutes.

I've had a nightmare before where I'm being chased by a bad guy and I try dialing 911 but I get a busy signal. It's scary to know the nightmare is real!

Thank goodness the times I've called 911 have been for minor car accidents. What if I was bleeding out my eyes after being hit by a semi and someone who was trying to call for an ambulence got put on hold? Those few minutes they're on hold could mean life or death.

-----end rant

Anyway, I feel bad for the kid. The lawsuit will probably get thrown out but I do hope the 911 operator gets fired in the end.