Here is the police report on the Barbara Dawson case (the Florida woman who died

[pnwmom]

in a hospital parking lot -- of a blood clot in the lung -- after the hospital summoned the police to forcibly discharge her.)

She was refusing to leave, insisting that she couldn't breathe (one of the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism) and instead of doing tests they disconnected her from oxygen and kicked her out.

http://www.wtxl.com/case-reports-from-blountstown-police-in-death-of-barbara-dawson/article_1d623e08-ad8c-11e5-968a-1fcd84e9366b.html

On 12-21-2015 at approx 0446 hrs I was dispatched to Calhoun Liberty Hospital in reference to Barbara Dawson refusing to leave the premises. upon my arrival contact, was made with hospital staff who stated that Dawson was in room six and was refusing to leave. Staff also stated that Dawson was ok and had been discharged.

At this time I made contact with Dawson and her aunt who was in the room with her. I tried explaining to Dawson that she had to leave the hospital at the request of hospital staff. As I was trying to explain this to Dawson, she would refuse to comply and also stated that she still did not feel well and that she wanted more treatment. I told Dawson that she had been discharged and if she wanted more treatment, she would need to go to another facility. Hearing this Dawson continued to refuse to vacate the premises. While refusing, Dawson was acting in a manner which was affecting the peace and quiet of other persons in the hospital.

After multiple verbal attempts to gain compliance from Dawson, she was placed under arrest for Disorderly Conduct and Trespassing. I attempted to remove the oxygen hose from Dawson but she refused to allow me to take it from her. At this time a female hospital staff member told me I could remove it from the port in the wall which I did. At this time I placed handcuffs on Dawsons left hand and attempted to place it behind her back. After a brief struggle and multiple verbal attempts to get Dawson to place her hand behind her back, I was able to get her left hand behind her back. During this Dawson was continuing to resist arrest in a non violent but non compliant manner. Dawson also complained of not being able to breathe but she appeared to be breathing fine as she was talking. Medical staff was also present and did not seem to think Dawson was having trouble breathing. After this, I continued to give Dawson verbal commands to place her other hand behind her back which she would not do. After being unable to get Dawsons right hand behind her back, I requested Hospital paramedic Drew Peacock to assist me in handcuffing Dawson. At this time myself and Paramedic Peacock were able to secure Dawsons other hand and complete the handcuffing procedure.

SNIP


BACKGROUND ON THE CASE IS HERE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027596596

THE AUDIO OF HER ARREST AND THE AFTERMATH IS HERE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027597281

[JustAnotherGen]

1. More

Moments later a Doctor walked outside and checked Dawsons vitals. After doing so, he stated that Dawson needed to be taken back inside the hospital. I asked the doctor if Dawson was being readmitted and he said yes. He stated that she was being readmitted for symptoms totally different than what she had been released from earlier. At this time a stretcher was brought outside and myself and medical staff lifted Dawson onto the stretcher. Dawson was then taken inside and medical staff began treating Dawson. At this time, I was still in the room with medical staff and Dawson and it appeared to me by the treatment she was receiving that Dawson was in declining health. I asked a staff member if Dawson was critical and she asked the Doctor who replied yes. At this time I stepped outside and called Captain Terry to advise him of the situation. I told him what had taken place and that CPR was currently being performed on Dawson. Moments later Captain Terry arrived and asked me what had taken place. After answering Captain Terry, he ordered me to return to the station and complete an incident report of the situation which I did. These incidents did occur in Calhoun County Fl, City of Blountstown and are in violation of F.S.S. 810.08 Trespassing and F.S.S. 877.03 Disorderly Conduct. All incidents were recorded via audio from my in-car camera mic. Nothing Follows at the current time.

[pnwmom]

2. "symptoms totally different." Meaning she had stopped breathing completely

and needed CPR as soon as she got to the ER.

She died of a pulmonary embolism, which was totally consistent with the panicky feeling and difficulty breathing she was having when the hospital decided to disconnect her oxygen and kick her out -- without ever giving her the lung scan that could have diagnosed her problem.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. The hospital I think

Just my opinion - was negligent.

This isn't on the police officer.

[pnwmom]

4. It was both. The police officer should have gotten a doctor to examine her

when she collapsed and stayed collapsed for 18 minutes.

The audio of those minutes is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027597281

[littlewolf]

6. here is my take on this criminal incident.

the cop was called to remove her. he isn't medically trained, he has to rely
on the medical staff who has told him she is being discharged.
now when she collapsed he should have immediately gone inside
and gotta staff.
enough blame to go around, there are staff member who
should lose their license / certification.
the cop needs remedial training, when someone falls out in a hospital parking lot
go inside and get help.

[pnwmom]

8. I agree. He followed procedure in removing her, but he shouldn't have taken

so long after she collapsed before making sure a doctor saw her.

But that hospital has no excuse because they didn't do the obvious tests for her symptoms.

[mainer]

7. Agreed. Not on the police officer.

All blame to the hospital.

[pnwmom]

9. Don't you think he should have called for a doctor after she collapsed

and not waited for 18 minutes? 18 minutes that could mean the difference between successful and failed CPR?

[mainer]

10. He'd been told by the hospital she was not sick.

She collapsed. He assumed it was a fake-out. He was not a doctor.

I wouldn't put the blame on him, but on the medical authorities who TOLD him she was a faker.

p.s. Hi, pnwmom!
pps: I'm a medical person, so blaming the medical personnel is usually low on my list.

[pnwmom]

11. The thought should have crossed his mind that circumstances had CHANGED.

The collapse was new information and you don't leave someone without proper medical attention who appears to lose consciousness. For 18 minutes.

You can hear him talking about her being "dead weight."

Yeah, because she was practically dead.

I also think he fudged his report. For one thing, he said she was propped up against the vehicle when the nurse first took his vitals -- pulse and oxygen -- both of which were supposedly normal. And then they uncuffed her to get a more accurate reading.

But the oxygen measurement is taken with a finger device. So how did they manage that with her hands behind her back and her back slumped against the car?

[mainer]

12. 18 minutes passes pretty fast

Having been involved in a number of medical emergencies, I can imagine that a young and inexperienced cop might dither, wasting time trying to get the woman to cooperate. I think he showed poor judgment, but not criminal behavior.

[pnwmom]

13. Did you listen to the 18 minutes on the audio? It sounded like FOREVER to me.

The officer was just standing around, once in a while telling her, again, that she needed to stand up or it would be worse for her.

I'm not saying anyone exhibited criminal behavior.

But gross negligence, yes.

[Lochloosa]

5. Blountstown, FL is about as backwoods as it gets in Florida.