HARNEY COUNTY, Ore. — A Harney County paramedic is mourning the death of her infant son while raising questions about a decision by her employer that has angered some of her coworkers.
Stephanie Sell, a paramedic with Harney District Hospital EMS, told her significant other to call 911 when her son, Weston, needed emergency help. The crew that responded included her own coworkers, KTVZ reported.
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In the days after Weston’s death, EMS staff rallied around Stell and her family. One coworker arranged for neighboring agencies in Lakeview and John Day to cover Harney District Hospital’s EMS calls for several hours so staff members could attend the funeral.
Sell’s coworkers also asked hospital leadership to allow an ambulance to be included in the funeral procession, a gesture paramedic Darren Binder described as a longstanding tradition in the first responder community.
“It’s a really serious thing, and it is a universal thing to have a procession for a first responder or first responder-adjacent deaths,” Binder said.
The hospital denied the request. Binder said he was later told hospital leaders were concerned that allowing an ambulance in the procession could lead other community members to request ambulance processions for their loved ones.
Sell said she believes the hospital’s decision may have been influenced by ongoing tensions between management and EMS employees, who voted to unionize earlier this year.
While she did not provide evidence linking the decision directly to the labor dispute, she said the strained relationship between leadership and staff has shaped how employees view the hospital’s actions.
Weeks later, the hospital expressed sympathy and acknowledged concerns about the decision in a statement to staff and KTVZ News.
“Harney District Hospital extends its deepest condolences to our EMS colleague and family following the heartbreaking loss of their child,” the statement read in part. “We are aware of concerns raised regarding the decision not to utilize a district ambulance as part of the funeral procession. We are sorry that this decision has been painful for many and has contributed to feelings of disappointment during an already difficult time.”
