The incident occurred less than a year ago, on December 9, 2010 and was reported here on AOL Black Voices. After becoming sick at the restaurant, Rennix began to have seizures. Others in the restaurant went to help her and pleaded with the EMTs to provide assistance. Instead, the EMTs allegedly told the patrons to call 911 and refused to provide any support.
The other EMT on the scene with Jackson has died since the incident. Most ironic about the death of Eutisha Rennix was that the EMT dispatch center was in the same building as the restaurant where she died. In spite of their proximity to her location, they arrived too late to help the dying woman.
Clearly, this incident should never have occurred. A review of NYC policies on matters like this one is necessary, given that the EMTs may have been responding to some kind of regulation increasing their liability when they try to do their jobs while not on official duty. Either way, a dying citizen with EMTs nearby shouldn't be neglected. We can most certainly agree to that.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.