Dispatcher/EMTs Suspended After Pregnant Woman’s Death

Two New York City EMS dispatchers have been suspended without pay after witnesses say they refused to use their EMT skills to help a pregnant woman who collapsed while working in a café where the two dispatchers were buying bagels. Dispatchers Jason Green and Melissa Jackson—both in uniform—took no action on Dec. 9th, workers at the restaurant said, but instead told them to call 911. The dispatchers left before an ambulance arrived 15 minutes later to take Eutisha Rennix to a hospital, where she and her unborn child died. According to news accounts, both Green and Jackson are trained EMTs, but don’t normally have in-person patient contacts. Green is a 6-year veteran and Jackson has four years of service. Fire department officials say all their employees are required to take appropriate actions, but an attorney for the two dispatchers said they acted, “appropriately to the best of their abilities.” NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg called the incident an “outrage,” saying the dispatchers were still human beings—”Drop your coffee and go help someboy if they’re dying,” he said angrily at a press conference. The fire department and state health department have launched investigations into the incident. Read more about the incident and the backlash here. Update: More details and reaction from fellow dispatchers is posted here. Update: The dispatchers explained their side of the story in the attorney’s office.e