Another shocking case has emerged from Phoenix as a man claims firefighter-paramedics failed to provide prompt medical transport during a serious health emergency. According to ABC15, 67-year-old Robert Martino experienced heart attack symptoms last September but wasn't taken to the hospital until a second 911 call, five hours after the first.
Martino, who takes more than 20 medications due to his history of heart attacks, was only able to recall a harrowing situation. "My heart went without oxygen for five hours," he told ABC15. "How many years is my life shortened?" The patient's significant other made the first emergency call when Martino collapsed and was unresponsive in their bathroom. In response, Phoenix firefighters suggested he was experiencing a panic attack and recommended placing ice on his neck. It wasn't until their circumstances deteriorated and a second call was placed that Martino was transported to a hospital and received a lifesaving stent.
This incident follows reports from last August where a doorbell camera recorded a Phoenix fire crew dissuading Haydee Pate, suffering from COVID and difficulty in breathing, from using ambulance services – a service that would cost $1,500, as per the firefighter's comment captured on video. ABC15's release of this footage initiated an investigation that concluded with the fire department admitting to multiple policy violations. "It's been over two years, and not even once did I receive any apology," Pate expressed in an interview with ABC15.
The two cases highlight a possible pattern of negligence and the breaching of established protocols. In response to these grim revelations, the Phoenix Fire Department has reportedly undergone retraining following a new law implemented in 2022. This legislation dictates that technicians cannot diagnose patients and must inform them of the risks associated with refusing ambulance transport. However, as Martino's ordeal indicates, the problem may not be wholly resolved. According to ABC15, Martino's case is now under investigation by the state's health department, which could entail disciplinary action for those involved.
Reflecting on the changes needed in the system, Martino suggested a solution akin to HIPAA rights acknowledgment — a form for patients to confirm their understanding of ambulance transportation rights, which could absolve EMTs of liability if patients decline transportation.
