DETROIT — A Detroit EMT has been fired after refusing to respond to a call to help an 8-month old baby who was not breathing.
According to WDIV, Ann Marie Thomas had finished another call less than a mile away when an EMS supervisor ordered Thomas to respond to the call for service.
It’s just a two-minute drive away at normal speeds, but Thomas took 6 minutes before telling dispatchers that she had parked around the corner from the scene.
“33, I’m going to need you to make that scene,” said the Detroit Fire EMS supervisor. “You’re going to have to make patient contact.”
But Thomas and her partner refused to move.
A 911 dispatcher told Thomas, “Uh, Romeo 33? Updated information that the child is not breathing. The baby was hooked up to an oxygen machine because it was premature. Romeo 33?”
WDIV reports Thomas told her boss, “I’m not about to be on no scene 10 minutes doing CPR, you know how these families get.”
An ambulance eventually arrived and transported the baby to a hospital. The girl was revived but died the following morning.
“EMT Thomas was immediately removed from duty following this incident,” said Commissioner Jenkins. “She has since filed an appeal. As executive fire commissioner, I have the ability to make the ultimate determination.”
Jenkins announced Wednesday that Thomas had been fired (after the video above aired).
