Dallas man claims paralysis was result of ambulance crew's negligence
The plaintiff’s attorney and city officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment
Dallas News
DALLAS — A Dallas man is suing the city, saying a Dallas Fire-Rescue ambulance crew was negligent for refusing to take him to the hospital three times in a day after he called them because he could not feel his legs. Walter Beattie was transported to the hospital too late, he claims in a lawsuit filed this week in a Dallas County court, and his permanent paralysis was a direct result of the crew’s negligence.
The plaintiff’s attorney and city officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Beattie could not be reached.
In early February 2011, Beattie was discharged from Baylor Regional Medical Center in Plano after being hospitalized for nearly two months with a “critical cardiac condition,” according to court documents.
Later that month, Beattie woke up, feeling numbness in his legs. He was unable to walk and called 911 to request an ambulance transport him to the hospital, about two miles from his home. A Dallas Fire-Rescue crew arrived but refused to take Beattie to the hospital. "The crew stated that because Beattie’s ‘vital signs’ were ‘stable’ they would not transport him,” according to the lawsuit.
Full story: Dallas man sues city, claims paralysis was result of ambulance crew’s negligence
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Douglas Bell Friday, February 22, 2013 1:58:21 PM What vital signs were "stable" to determine a "TNR" transport not required. Surely testing distal sensory function, given the history would have been imperative?, just saying. 
Kenny Hay Friday, February 22, 2013 2:01:10 PM In VA we don't have the right to refuse transport of a patient requesting our assistance no matter how much of a BS call it is and no matter how many times they call we have to transport. The only time we don't transport if the patient themselves refuses to go. 
Billy Wood Friday, February 22, 2013 2:08:38 PM Kenny I run at a squad in NJ, and it runs the same way here as well. And im sure its a protocol in other states also. DFD is gonna fry. I bet you their PCR for this guy says "pt refused transport" and they probally forged a signature, granted they even implement that system
Elisa Taylor Friday, February 22, 2013 3:20:28 PM I agree... people do not take the oath seriously and don't really think about the life it can affect no matter how much of BS it really is... because that one time it's not. It's sad there are a lot of EMT's that want to be called hero's but don't have a clue other than turning on their lights & sirens going through red lights... so sad... Billy Wood Friday, February 22, 2013 2:03:10 PM Good that he is implementing the suit. DFD had no reason to deny transport. The only way a patient can be denied transport is A. he is CAOx3 and signs a transport refusal. B. A POA/relative signs if patient can't, or C. DOA. 
Ernie Sharp Friday, February 22, 2013 2:09:33 PM A/Ox3 is not an indicator that the patient is competent to refuse transport. A patient can be alert and oriented and still be incompetent to refuse. Billy Wood Friday, February 22, 2013 2:13:12 PM my point is is that they had no right denying transport. And once this is said and done I can almost forsee those medics/EMTs losing their cards
Paul Bush Friday, February 22, 2013 10:04:50 PM Theres an old saying in emergency services..... Goes like this.... Dont believe everything you read in the paper and don't always believe a patient who claims a complaint.
Jenney Baxter-Adams Friday, February 22, 2013 2:06:09 PM The service I work for has a refusal from that needs to be signed by the patient if we are not taking the patient in to the hospital. 
Sharon McGehee Friday, February 22, 2013 2:11:08 PM Sounds like he has an excellent lawsuit. First of all if a patients wants to go to the hospital you have to transport. Second of all to just leave him on the kitchen floor or refuse to help him get into a pov is completely absurd! 
Kristi B Dahl Friday, February 22, 2013 2:29:20 PM hmm I am thinking that this is actually one lawsuit that the patient should win. Refusing to transport? I wish I could refuse to transport 90% of our calls, but we are not aloud to! 
AnnMarie Evetts Friday, February 22, 2013 2:39:20 PM Unless some of you have more information on this case than I am finding, we are only seeing ONE side of the case...the man suing the department. I don't like judging without ALL the facts. I don't know of a single unit anywhere who doesn't have to log every run, and the results of those runs. What do their logs say about the calls? 
Jake Stein Friday, February 22, 2013 9:14:23 PM Seriously? Logging every run? I guess you haven't noticed the controversy on Washington DC's EMS/FD and a few others. PCRs have a way of getting "misplaced" especially if they were never done. 
Kevin R Favier Friday, February 22, 2013 2:50:22 PM Yes DFD is in trouble but the whole system needs work. The BS calls are killing the Health Care System. Hospitals are closing and we are spending more time driving to other places to find care for or Chest pain PT, who will not let you touch her in any way. We are getting911 calls from one ER to pick up and transport to another ER because there cough is not getting seem fast enough. DFD I feel for you, but you had a job to do even though it kills you to deal with the same old BS. Jake Stein Tuesday, February 26, 2013 6:06:38 PM Seriously? You call paralysis BS? WTF? If the pulse ox is normal you walk away saying the patient is just BS? Just how much education did you get for assessing the "norm"? This patient will now cost millions in treatment and rehab. Delayed treatment with dire consequences costs healthcare alot more than any so called BS taxi runs. After 3 times of calling for help this man deserved some qualified professionals attending to him. DFD wasted time and delayed this many from getting definitive treatment. At some time Paramedics in the US must realize that a 6 month cert does not make them a doctor. 
Bonnie Mapes Silver Friday, February 22, 2013 3:07:13 PM The they should have suspended them WITHOUT pay, investigated, then FIRED them And took their certifications away. It doesn't matter if his vitals were "stable" or not, the patient requested to go to the hospital so you take them, the 1st time not wait until you done the damage and then take him after he pleads with the same crew 4 times. I've transported patients in the winter time when it was freezing out side, in the middle of the night where I'd rather be sleeping. When we got to the patients, they would be by the door with their suitcases packed and when you ask them what's wrong, oh I've had a cold for 2 weeks now and I can't sleep. They even walked to the ambulance.
This Dallas crew would definitely been fired within hours of this event happening. Furthermore, if I was in charge, I would have probably gone on the call also to see what the issues were and why this gentleman was calling again and again. There is no call for this abuse by ambulance crews. You took the training and got your job. Now take a lesson in being compassionate to your patients.....listen to them for a change. 
Yogi Ed Zubrzycki Friday, February 22, 2013 3:15:01 PM I am agreeing with Ann marie, Not all the facts were presented so it is difficult to make any judgement since it reveal only possibly one side and little details of that side as well. Elisa Taylor Friday, February 22, 2013 3:18:37 PM usually an RMA is signed IF they were a smart EMS crew. Jake Stein Friday, February 22, 2013 9:16:31 PM Still no protection in court. A patient can always be threatened, intimidated or pissed off enough to sign anything. A piece of paper will not hold up in court if that is the case.
Chris Connor Friday, February 22, 2013 3:46:35 PM Yeah there is more to this story I am sure, sounds like a lot of information is missing. 
Kat Jolly Friday, February 22, 2013 6:17:58 PM I used to work for a transport company in Dallas and we were told that DFD is known for not transporting unless they are unstable. they will give the patient the numbers for the nonemergency transport companies in the area. I used to pick up a lot of their patients that they didn't take. Including one that was hypoglycemic and ALOC when I got there. I was also told that the city has a special fund set away for the lawsuits that come from them not transporting. I am not saying that I believe the city is doing a good thing. I strongly disagree with them. There are many times that I have wanted to cuss the medics out. What's really sad is that they have interns on their ambulances and the interns are taught really bad habits. 
Colton R. Dean Friday, February 22, 2013 6:27:46 PM Anyone with new onset numbness/paralysis should be transported, even if their vitals signs are within normal limits. 
Robert Taylor Saturday, February 23, 2013 6:22:34 AM DFR does have a protocol for the crew to refuse transport of a pt. I would not comment on any litigation but find this disturbing. No transports are one of the most common causes of lawsuits in the industry. Many when the pt gave informed refusal of care. It is almost always better to transport when given the option. 
Jay Resn Sunday, February 24, 2013 4:56:45 AM Even if the patient "refused" treatment why would the crews allow him to do so 3 times and at no point make him go to the hospital? Sounds like some malfeasance to me... 
Lindsay Brown Sunday, February 24, 2013 5:57:46 AM Malfeasance...where have I heard that word before?
Alissa Gloriande Berse Sunday, February 24, 2013 6:23:34 AM Wouldn't they have to have him taken into custody to make him go?
