Woman Dies While Being Forcibly Removed From Hospital

[orangeblossom]

This is tragic on so many levels.  I noticed this was a 25-bed hospital, which qualifies as a critical access hospital (CAH), so I wonder if/how that played into it..

www.theroot.com/articles/news/2015/12/fla_woman_dies_after_being_forcibly_removed_from_hospital_by_police.html

On Monday, 57-year-old Barbara Dawson went to the Liberty Calhoun Hospital in Tallahassee, Fla., because she was having trouble breathing. She was checked by a doctor who found that she was fine and could be discharged. But Dawson didn't feel better, so she refused to leave. Police were called, and Dawson was handcuffed and escorted from the building. She collapsed on the way out and later died.



According to the Associated Press, the police officer removed the handcuffs after Dawson collapsed and took her back into the hospital.



"We were told by a doctor once she got back in the hospital that her vital signs were good and it was their decision to readmit her," Blountstown Police Chief Mark Mallory told AP.




Mallory added that police had arrested Dawson on disorderly conduct and trespassing charges, AP reports. Autopsy results should be released Wednesday, he said, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials have been called in to investigate the incident.



"The most reasonable thing to do is to let her sit there and be able to settle down until she felt well. Instead, she is forcibly removed and put in cuffs," Tallahassee attorney Daryl Parks, who is representing Dawson's family, told the news service. "The early facts of this case should cause a great concern for everyone."



A local NAACP chapter held an emergency meeting Tuesday and met with local leaders and members of Dawson's family. Dale R. Landry, who is the regional vice president for the Florida state chapter of the NAACP, told AP that while he is glad that state law-enforcement officers are getting involved in the investigation, he strongly believes that Dawson's "death was due to negligence by the police department and hospital."

[ESF]

OMFG.

In addition to how reprehensible this is, I feel like this dovetails into the other discussions we've had about how people of color's medical concerns are often not taken as seriously as white people's. (I am assuming this woman is black based on the NAACP involvement)

[orangeblossom]

Dec 23, 2015 15:56:33 GMT -5 ESF said:

OMFG.

In addition to how reprehensible this is, I feel like this dovetails into the other discussions we've had about how people of color's medical concerns are often not taken as seriously as white people's. (I am assuming this woman is black based on the NAACP involvement)

Yes, she was black.  People know themselves, and if she felt she wasn't feeling well, they should not just brush it off.  I know it can be hard to tell who's malingering or not, but police, handcuffs, etc is completely unnecessary, IMO.

[pixy0stix]

Holy shit. I'm not a medical expert, but it sounds like she was having a heart attack.

[jeaniebueller]

That is just terrible.

[katfco]

This is outrageous and rage-inducing. It speaks so clearly to the lack of respect they had for this woman.

[orangeblossom]

I just saw on another news story, that she died of a blood clot. No wonder she was having trouble breathing.

Sad, sad, sad.

[lg28]

Omfg. That's awful on so many levels.

[Aquatica]

This is so awful and the forced used on this woman was so unnecessary.

[jln]

OMG how terrible. I can't fathom putting her in handcuffs after insisting on medical care. WTF

[One Girl In All The World]

JFC how horrible. That poor woman.

[bronxgirl]

I read this earlier. it's so disturbing and I'm sure happens much more often then is reported.

[penguingrrl]

OMG, that's awful.