This story from Grand Rapids, Michigan is by Sarah Sell, WZZM-TV:
You put your life in their hands, but for one family, a trip to the hospital in an ambulance went horribly wrong. Mitch Jannereth, 90 was injured when his gurney tipped over as he was being transported by two Life EMS workers. He died two months later.
It happened back in 2005. The incident was caught on surveillance tape, but the family is still seeking closure. They say the ambulance company never admitted to what happened.
“It was horrible and very sad to see the dad I knew, broken and hurt,” says one of Mitch’s five daughters, Jane Jannereth.
In September of 2005, Jannereth called an ambulance to his home in Wyoming. He complained about being weak. Jane says she was later told that he had low electrolytes.
“He was the healthiest 90-year-old man you could meet. He wasn’t on any blood pressure, heart medicine, nothing,” says daughter Joni Hyde.
Life EMS transported Jannereth to the hospital. Jane met them there and when she went inside, she says an EMT gave her a piece of paper with his supervisor’s name on it.
“And he says, excuse me ma’am, but this never happened before, but when we were transporting your dad, he jerked and bumped his head.”
By then, the rest of the family had arrived and went into their dad’s room.
“I walked in and the toupee I had put on my dad’s head, was saturated with blood.”
The sisters took pictures of the injuries. He had a gash on his head, bruises on his shoulder and was wearing a neck brace.
“He kept saying to me, honey, did they beat me up? It knocked him out. He was knocked out. He was unconscious”, says Joni.
As Jannereth was being treated for his injuries inside the hospital, Jane came outside to smoke a cigarette. It was there that she noticed a security camera pointed at the same location the ambulance was parked. She had a feeling that her questions about what happened were about to be answered.
The surveillance camera captured the events on tape. The ambulance is seen pulling up to the hospital and comes to a stop with the right side of the vehicle on the curb. A short time later the gurney can be seen falling on its side. Jannereth’s head hits the ground. One of the ambulance workers tries to pull him back up.
Jane says, “Then you see the other guy and they’re opening up the legs. Then, they try to pick him up and drop him again!”
Jannereth spent the next two months in various nursing homes. His daughters say he was never the same. He would ask to see their mother.
“And my mom had died 4 years before him and I said, mom passed away dad. And I started crying and he said I’m supposed to know that aren’t I?” says Joni.
Two months after the accident, Mitch Jannereth died of pneumonia. Since then, the family has struggled with what to do about the day he was injured. They consulted different attorneys, but so far, no one has taken the case.
“Yeah, those are compelling images on camera, aren’t they? Wow”, says Nelson Miller, who teaches at Cooley Law School.
Miller says malpractice lawsuits are challenging. “The law has made it harder here, to make that case.” The biggest reason is a law that protects emergency workers.
“For instance, the Emergency Medical Services Act. Basically an act providing limited immunity for service providers and particularly with respect to ambulance technicians, EMT and so forth.”
Miller says an attorney would have to prove gross negligence, not just carelessness.
“And that’s a tough standard to make because in large, professionals, EMTs, doctors, are pretty caring. They may not always show it, bedside manner being what it is. But, in general, very caring.”
The Jannereth family says Life EMS never acknowledged what really happened. When WZZM 13 News caught up with the company’s President, Mark Meijer, at the opening of a new facility, we tried to get Life EMS’s side of the story.
“Well, I appreciate that, we just don’t discuss patient care issues”, says Meijer.
WZZM 13′s Sarah Sell also asked about the two ambulance workers. “Is there anything you can say about…were these guys disciplined? ” “Oh, we would never talk about patient care”, says Meijer.
WZZM 13 News did check with the Michigan Department of Community Health and the two men are still licensed by the state. According to the documents, there has been no disciplinary action.
“You should feel safe when an ambulance is brought to your house, you should be brought down there safely, respectfully”, says Jane.
Sarah says, “Will anything give you closure?” “No, but maybe it will never happen to another family”, says Joni.
The Jannereth family knows that they may never get the justice that they believe they deserve. They do take some comfort in knowing that someone out there may learn from what happened to their dad.
The family says that their insurance company did receive a ‘no fault auto claim’ and that money went toward some of the medical bills. As for any kind of lawsuit, the statute of limitations for this case expires on September 23, 2010.
WZZM 13 News also received this written statement from Life EMS:
May 6, 2010,
“We treat the trust and privacy of all individuals with the utmost importance. In keeping with specific Life EMS Ambulance policies, we do not publicly discuss individuals whom we may have cared for.”
- Mark Meijer, president of Life EMS Ambulance
Also on STATter911 …
- Wife who asked to be beside her dying husband in ambulance says crew left her on side of road. Questions about care after Maine skiing accident. – January 15, 2012
- Marco Island Fire Rescue ambulance delay report says hospital, FD & other agencies failed to meet community expectations. Chief says citizens deserve answers. – October 21, 2011
- Maine’s Franklin Hospital/Northstar Ambulance issues a non-statement about dying man’s wife claim she was left on side of road. Another lesson in reputation mismanagement. – January 20, 2012
- Pre-arrival video: Chip store burns at UK’s Brighton Seafront. Lots of cameras on the scene. Stealing an idea from EMS on dealing with them. – April 22, 2011
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Dave,
The video link wasn`t working.
Sad. I see it far too often. Coworkers get lazy and don`t pay attention then this type of situation comes around. I feel bad for the family. DSid the resulting injury lead to his death or disabbility? Who knows. Was this crew wrong by not reporting it when it happened? HELL YES! When you “F” up, FESS UP.
Both hands on the cot at ALL times. When in doubt, get extra hands to help. I always tell coworkers……treat EACH pt like he/she was your grandparent. Take curbs head on square…..Do these things EVERY time you hold a cot without a pt on it, it`ll come naturally WITH a pt on it. Don`t get lazy……Want to be treated like a professional? Act like one.
Im sorry for this family, I personally havent dropped a stretcher, but i know people who have, accidents happen. I didnt see in the video why the stretcher tipped, maybe there was an issue with the cot or the pavement, maybe the crew wasnt even at fault.
Too bad this this incidentand my condolscences to Mr. Jannereths family.
My thoughts about “Immunity” under the Emergency medical Services Act, is Bunk, when it comes to Grose Negligence.
The Ambulance Company and EMS workers are responsible for “Accepted Practices” Patient Care and this was not it.
My thought is if possible Contact Gloria Allred JD., in Los Angeles Calif. Believe me, with some new changes in EMS Law in my State, these two and the company whould be held accountable.
Also, how about a “Small Claims” suit against the three for he remaining Medical Bills?
4millon will make the pain go away