Man dies because paramedics decide he "Isnt worth saving"

United States
January 18, 2009 1:20am CST
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article5420921.ece this beyond enrages me!! [i]Two ambulancemen have been arrested by police after they were heard allegedly discussing whether they should bother to resuscitate a disabled man who had collapsed at home and subsequently died. Barry Baker, 59, who lived alone, had dialled 999 saying that he thought he was having a heart attack. An ambulance was sent to his house while a controller kept him talking on the line. By the time the ambulancemen arrived at the house in Patcham, Brighton, Mr Baker had collapsed, but the telephone line was still open and was being recorded. It is alleged that staff in the control centre heard the two medics making disparaging comments about the state of the house. A police source, who asked not to be named, said that the ambulancemen were then heard discussing Mr Baker and saying “words to the effect that he was not worth saving”.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 Mr Baker.They are said to have discussed what to tell ambulance control and decided to say that Mr Baker was already dead when they got there. Sussex Police confirmed that two men had been arrested and that a full-scale investigation into the incident was being carried out by the major crime team. “They were detained on suspicion of wilfully neglecting to perform a duty in public office, contrary to Common Law. They have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.”[/i]
5 people like this
14 responses
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Jan 09
gosh that is absolutely horrible and very scary as well for anyone who calls an ambulance any where, it is really sending my blood pressure up sky high even thinking about it.
2 people like this
• United States
22 Jan 09
i know and its really scary when you have health probs and seeing some one with health problems being treated so cruelly.
@jennysp8 (855)
• United States
19 Jan 09
That is just terrible. I cannot believe that there are people like that who are working in fields where they are to always care and do the best for the public. Insane!!
2 people like this
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
19 Jan 09
Never call 911...You'd be better off driving yourself to your regular doctor during regular business hours days later than risking these guys & the emergency room.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Jan 09
i always drive to the er because i figure i will be faster than them getting to me and every one delivery wise gets lost finding my house lol
• United States
19 Jan 09
OMG!! how could they do that?! they have no compassion at all, and you'd think that one of the main reasons that certain ppl get into the emergency responder fields is BECAUSE they have compassion! this is just unbelievable! what's scary is HOW MANY OTHER TIMES have they just "decided" that someone wasnt worth saving?? there could be dozens!! oh man this is just a horrifying thought to consider, someday when i (heaven forbid and crossing fingers) have to call for an ambulance for myself, i will undoubtedly be thinking "am i worth saving?!" they DESERVE prison time for sure, my god ppl should feel they can depend on them to at LEAST make the attempt at saving lives!! they have to try!
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Jan 09
them with the knowledge and tools not even trying when people that dont know what they are doing TRY to help out other people but cant save them because they dont have the necessary things on hand or knowledge.. what a waste!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
19 Jan 09
WHen my father had heart problems and was in a VA hospital we were all camped out in the intensive care waiting room....we could hear was was going on all the time...one day they had a code blue....we could hear the nurses say...you going down? nah....I don't think I want to....another one said..where the d*mn box (for doing recuscitate) one said....don't know....don't care! After that and one more incident I contacted my state senator.....and we had words about the care that was being given in the VA hospital.....He wanted my father to sue...but he wouldn't...anyway...truthfully it's probably more common then you think.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Jan 09
va hospital here got busted bad for neglect and mold everywhere etc.. and yeah it is prob a lot more common unfortunately
• United States
19 Jan 09
How could they stand there and let a man die? That was the job they choose to do and it doesn't matter what kind of person they are if they are in need than you have to help them. I hope the judge gives them the harshest sentence that he possibly can and they have to spend there days in a cell thinking about what they did to a disabled man. That really makes you think before you want to call for help. It might be best to call a friend so at least you know that they will try and save you and not leave you to die. I am glad that the dispatcher heard the conversation and that it was recorded so there is no way for them to deny what they have done.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Jan 09
i know it was pure luck to catch it all to be able to use it against them later
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
21 Jan 09
Woah~~~! Now a days, even paramedics get to make that call whether to save a person or not? Who gave them that right to be the judge and the jury for this man's fate? If they are going to be making such decisions on site whenever they are called on duty, it would be better if they are discharged of their duties. It is not their call as paramedics to decide if a person should live or die!
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
19 Jan 09
That is really horrible. I agree with some of the other responders. It is not just neglect to perform a duty in public office, but a criminal offense. They had no right to decide if the man would live or die.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jan 09
Can we talk about a God complex?? Seriously who do they think they are deciding if a man should live or not..as far as i am concerned it was manslaughter and they need some serious jail time.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Jan 09
scary thing is that there was two of them.. so bad enough having one cruel monster running around but to have another person agree or at least not stand up otherwise to be with him and them both to be in the medical field...
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
18 Jan 09
That's very bad I mean people depend on ambulance and medical people to come and rescue them, not to worry about their housecleaning abilities or whether they are "worth saving". I hope they send these two to jail for a long, long time
• United States
18 Jan 09
me too but after reading another discussion i did where a guy left his poodle in his van for 19 days with no food or water and only getting a ticket im seriously not trusting the justice system.. but they are two different countries so hopefully they will get punished properly.. (and im not meaning to say the dog is as bad as the man but just there has been a string of crimes where people have walked after doing horrible things and thats the only thing i could think of to quote lol)
@sweetie1026 (1718)
• Philippines
18 Jan 09
That is so sad. I have always had this high regard to these people. I mean their work needs so much dedication and hearing this now really shocked me. I never realized that there are men like these who are into this kind of job when they are not suppose to be. I am so sorry for Mr. Baker.
@singlemommy (2955)
• United States
18 Jan 09
OMG, that is horrible. I don't think anyone has the right to judge someone like this. That is just horrible that someone would think that another human life isn't worth saving.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Jan 09
Wow. that is so messed up. People like that ruin the Earth.
1 person likes this
@MissAmie (717)
• United States
19 Jan 09
I can't even fathom a paramedic (who's job it is to SAVE lives) make a decision that a human life isn't worth the effort. Even as a bystander I would feel obligated to do something...anything. No way I could just watch someone die and not offer help. That's just despicible! That's one jury I'd love to be on. These are people we are supposed to be able to put our faith in when we are in need. At least the men were arrested and will be brought to justice. That makes me feel a little bit better.
• United States
22 Jan 09
i couldnt imagine with all that training letting some one die.. you would think saving people would be instinct by now