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$4M lawsuit says 92-year-old died after EMS crew dropped her on sidewalk

The woman’s family says she broke seven bones when EMS personnel allowed a stretcher to tip over

Aimee Green
The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The family of a 92-year-old Vancouver woman who died after ambulance workers who were transporting her allegedly dropped her onto a concrete sidewalk has filed a $4 million lawsuit against American Medical Response Northwest.

The lawsuit claims that Ethel Watters broke six ribs and her collarbone on Nov. 2, 2018, when the two AMR employees allowed a gurney carrying Watters to tip over. Watters was being transferred from her home to a facility that could care for her cough that had been getting worse, the suit states.

Watters died 11 days later after spending five days at a hospital and six days in hospice care, the suit states.

“Throughout this time, Ethel Watters was unable to eat or drink and suffered excruciating pain,” the lawsuit states.

A representative from AMR declined comment Tuesday, saying the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit seeks $88,000 for medical bills; $3,000 for memorial and burial expenses; $1,275,000 for Watters’ “conscious pain, fear, and terror” leading up to her death; and $2,750,000 for her family’s loss of society and companionship.

Court papers list three sons and one daughter as heirs.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Portland lawyer Mark McDougal is representing the family.

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©2019 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)

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