23 replies to this topic

[Archon]

DETROIT - A 5-year-old boy called 911 to report that his mother had collapsed in their apartment, but an operator told him he should not be playing on the phone, and she died before help arrived.

The family of Sherrill Turner, 46, does not know whether a swifter response could have saved her life, but relatives want to know why the operator apparently treated the call as if it were a prank.

Source

If I were that kid, I would have been pissed as hell.

Discuss the how retarded the american justice system is

[Hawk]

Lawsuit time!

Thats completely the operators fault.

Edit: It took them three hours to get to the house?! Thats horrible!

Edited by hawk117, 07 April 2006 - 08:40 PM.

[amyjia]

hmpf.. well I've known of plenty of small children whom do call 911 in 'accident' so yeah...

yeah me too, but this is just a very sad case... It's just like the boy who cried wolf.. They get so many calls from chidren playing around, so when a child calls who really needs help, they disregard it

[supatyson]

Thats bullshit, they have to react in some way to the call. Send someone to check it out at least.

[Daniel ~ Bong]

A while back in Australia, there were adverts on T.V ALL the time encouraging children to remember "000" if their mother/father/siblings or whatever are in an emergency.

Damned Americans!

[Rush]

Me: -dials 911-
Operator: Hello, this is the police. How may I help you?
Me: theres a wolf in my room
Operator: -teehee- now go to bed
-some time later-
News Caster: We are here live a house in watchamacallit, where a young boy savagely eaten by a wolf...

i would sue them..

[Christopher Robin]

if that kid was ME, the operator would have been put in a coma, dumb ass bitch! i mean, WHY?! what an ass!

[RandomNameIgnoreIt]

I would almost say the operator deserves jail time for that... Or at least a heavy fine and heavy community service... and in response to the topic title, 911 != police

Normally I wouldn't recommend jail time for someone just doing something wrong at their job, but as a 911 operator, it's pretty clear that when someone calls in with an emergency... You send someone... Whoever it is

There are stories about CATS accidently dialing 911 while their owners were having heart attacks and the 911 operator sent people to the house...

Edited by BrknPhoenix, 08 April 2006 - 06:55 AM.

[cara]

God ... Silly Americans ....

How can you do that? Jesus ..

[RandomNameIgnoreIt]

God ... Silly Americans ....

How can you do that? Jesus ..

It's hardly representative of all Americans... Unless you think one bad 911 operator properly represents the tens of thousands of others in the country.

[cara]

It's hardly representative of all Americans... Unless you think one bad 911 operator properly represents the tens of thousands of others in the country.

-cough- Alright, I will correct myself ...

*Silly American

[Freddy]

I agree I would sue them. Even though when my brother was 3 or 4 he called the Fire Department the day after we had a fire from a lamp. My mom caught him. It was funny. lol

[Tim]

I'd definently sue. They could of at least sent someone to check it out.

[puro reggaeton]

thats crazy! they should have at least went to investigate if it was a prank either way. & i cant believe the operator is still working there.

[Riku The Programmer]

I thought operators were automatic robots o.O

Anyway, that spells trouble for whomever was on duty

[Hawk]

I thought operators were automatic robots o.O

Anyway, that spells trouble for whomever was on duty

No, they said there may be some disciplinary action in the article. She will not lose her job though

[Tetiel]

I agree with Brkn... because she disregarded that call that woman died... they may not have been able to do something in time.. they don't know, but what if they COULD?! The woman's blood is on her hands now...

[Frizzle]

How can you tell if it's a fake or not though..it's a hard job..can't say she should be punished..

[Sweeney]

How can you tell if it's a fake or not though..it's a hard job..can't say she should be punished..

I agree with the first bit.
You can't tell.

But in those circumstances, the caller should -always- get the benefit of the doubt.

[RandomNameIgnoreIt]

How can you tell if it's a fake or not though..it's a hard job..can't say she should be punished..

Really that's not a 911 operators job... Their job is to report emergencies to the proper authorities. Someone calls, and if there is a medical emergency they call the ambulance. If there is a fire they call the ambulance and a firetruck. If there is a crime they call the police and possibly an ambulance. It is not their job to discern whether the person on the other end is telling the truth or not. They get an address and what's wrong, and they contact the emergency reponse people needed...

[Frizzle]

Yes but all that time wasted could end up with another life lost, so either way they're screwed.

[Stephen]

In Australia we have Advertisments on TV encouraging young children to call 000(our emergency number) if there is an emergency.

[redlion]

Its common knowledge around here that as soon as you dial 911 the fire and police departments are put on standby, and as soon as the operator is assured that the call isn't a mistake or a prank, a police car and a fire truck are on the way (no matter what sort of emergency).

That woman didn't do her job; simple as that. The fact that a woman died... well, manslaughter is a shitty thing to goto jail for.

[Hawk]

I was thinking about possible laws she broke. Manslaughter seems to be the correct crime.