In Florida, a 30-year-old woman gave birth to a baby via C-section and, several days later, passed out at home. Her mother called 911 after finding her daughter slumped over in the bathtub and drooling through swollen lips. Paramedics arrived at Crystle Galloway’s third-floor condo and carried her downstairs, but that seems to be where their care ended in this case of medical malpractice, medical negligence, and racial discrimination.
Time Is of the Essence in Medical Emergencies
Four paramedics are accused of refusing to care for an African-American patient and committing racial profiling. According to Galloway’s mother, Nicole Black, the paramedics did not take Galloway’s vitals and tried to convince her that she did not need an ambulance ride. Black said Hillsborough County deputies and paramedics questioned whether Galloway could afford the $600 for the three-block ride to the hospital and implied that Galloway had been drinking.
Black said that after 10 minutes of pleading fruitlessly with paramedics, she drove her daughter to the hospital herself. A CT scan showed that Galloway had bleeding in her brain. Galloway slipped into a coma and died five days later, leaving behind three children, ages 13, 7, and a newborn.
Taking Responsibility for Medical Negligence
The paramedics’ side of the story is that they had spoken to Black about how she would drive her daughter to the hospital if the paramedics could just get Galloway down three flights of stairs and into her car.
Hillsborough County, however, acknowledges that their responders did indeed fail to take the patient’s vitals, did not get the signature that is required to refuse ambulance service, and falsified the patient care report. “If the fire medics had taken the vitals, they would have concluded, as our medical director has, that this woman needed to be transported by EMS to the hospital,” said a county administrator.
Failure to Provide Standard of Care
Medical negligence doesn’t just happen in hospitals or doctor’s offices. EMS employees are also expected to provide a standard of care. Their care is often the most critical as it is the first care a patient receives before being transported to an emergency room.
Another issue this tragedy spotlights is that American mothers are dying in childbirth. It may not be right away, but even days after the birth the level of care is not high enough across the nation to prevent some mothers from losing their lives. In Galloway’s case, there is no evidence reported yet that her delivery and C-section contributed to the bleeding in her brain, but there could certainly be a correlation.
Get Justice for Your Suffering
Some medical malpractice and medical negligence may be difficult to recognize. Clearly, in Galloway’s case, there was no difficulty seeing that she received substandard care. No one should ever suffer greater pain than they are already in because of lack of medical care.
If you have lost someone you love because of medical negligence, you may have a case against the medical staff or facility involved. Contact Thurswell Law for a free consultation. Our medical malpractice attorneys have the experience to get you the compensation you deserve. We do not charge any fees unless you collect. Call (248) 354-2222 today to schedule your consultation.
