I am SO upset!
 

Last night my daughter's neighbor man died. I'm figuring he probably had a heart attack. He was elderly. Anyway, the ambulance and police got there and my daughter watched, wondering what was going on. They carried this man out by hand, rather than on a stretcher. An ambulance attendant on each side holding him by his arms and the policeman holding his feet. His poor head was bopping all around as they headed toward the gurney. They then just heaved him onto the gurney so his head bounced and arms flew down to the sides. They took his arms and threw them up on his body. They then gave the gurney a push and they held onto it sliding on the ice on the way down the driveway and can you believe this...the ambulance guys were laughing as if it was a big joke. My daughter was afraid it would go out of control because it was going so fast and her poor neighbor would end up on the ground. They got to the ambulance...literally shoved the gurney in there and slammed the door hard. Another neighbor of my daughter's witnessed this also. She was appalled, as was my daughter. What is wrong with people? Was it because this poor man was elderly and they figured he's just an old dead man? How can they not respect this poor soul, even though he is dead. I have been so upset all day after hearing this and told my daughter that she and her neighbor have to file a report to the Police Department and the ambulance service. There is absolutely no excuse for this behavior. For all we know, that poor man's family was watching out the window as these jerks acted inappropriately with their loved one...whom they had JUST lost! Where is their compassion? They should never have carried him out of the house as they did. If the gurney didn't fit thru the door, they should have taken the stretcher board and put him on that. They should have also covered the poor soul. They should have handled him in the same manner they would have if he was alive. I didn't know this man, but I'm so upset with what happened that I have actually cried over it. I can't believe this cruel world and how heartless people can be.

How sad, I am sorry you daughter had to see that...Some people just don't have respect for others....:(

OMG... That is terrible!!!!!!! I can't believe how someone could act like that. I hope your daughter and the other neighboor do file a complaint. How would those people feel if that were there loved one and someone was treating them like that. I'm so sorry your daughter has to witness that. People can be sooooo heartless!!!!!!!!!!!

i think someone needs to report that happening.
resprect has to be re-taught in this world.

How horrible for both your daughter and the poor guy.

If I were your daughter, I would contact the police force, locals news channels, or etc. to tell of my disapproval. How horrible for your daughter to have to witness that.. I can imaging it'll stick with her forever. :(

Exactly...she says she just can't get it out of her mind. She tossed and turned in bed last night just visioning that over and over. I've decided that if she and her neighbor don't file a report, I'll do it myself and give their names and numbers so they can verify it with them. An editorial to the newspaper would be good too...except that the family of that man would probably read it and that wouldn't be good.

That's terrible. Someone should report them for the insensitivity.
My mother passed away a year ago. She died in bed on the second floor of her house. The funeral director and ambulance personell asked everyone to leave the house as they had to carry her down the stairs because the gurney could not make the turn at the top of the stairs. Once they had her down to the living room they had her on the gurney and asked the family to come back into the house. They respected her and my sisters.

File the report! There is no justification for the way the man was treated, and I empathize with your daughter, and you as well. What a horrible way to treat the elderly. May she find some peace in reporting it, she just might save another body from being treated disrespectfully......

Connie -- I am so very sorry for your daughter. I do hope she reports the crass uncaring group of individuals who provided this final service for the old gentleman. Sending hugs to your daughter...... please let her know I'll keep her in my prayers.

that is sad....those people need a new line of work...
that makes me mad..... :mad:

many things happened here that should not have happened and needs to be reported. But, being a retired nurse and having done many, many patients post mortum care with the door closed and family members away or not even there, I can tell you that occasionally the nervous laugh or giggle does happen. it is not meant in any way to be disrespectable to the dead, it is simply the nurses( or cna) way of releivng the tension that ALWAYS accompanies death. I was helping take a body to the hospital morgue once. When we got there, we had to move him from the cart to the morgue tray. I had the head end. nearly dropped him. I had a nervous fit of giggling as did my helper. here we were in a morgue with several dead people, trying to hurry and get out of there, giggling like fools and then being ashamed. It happens.

What a horrible thing to witness. I would definitely report the way this poor man was handled. Respect is the key word here!!

oh wow - I would have nightmares about that - That's another example of the elderly being mistreated in this country :( :(

That's terrible !! Connie - I would call them and talk to whoever is in charge....that is so disrespectful of that poor man....what a terrible thing for him to go thru and your daughter to see.....we can only hope he doesn't remember....:(

Connie ~ It could possibly be that conditions within the house would not allow for the gurney to be brought inside, thus making it necessary to carry the deceased to the gurney outside. HOWEVER; not only should a report be filed with the police and rescue squad (call the captain); but this one needs to be brought to the attention of the general public. It's the townspeople - your daughter, and her neighbors - whose taxes pay the salaries of the crew whose disrespectful attitude is an offense. Someone really should write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper - and, yes, call the local TV station.

Conie she should definitely report them. That is a disgrace. They are civil servants and their salary was paid by us and that newly deceased man. How horrible.

I did an oopsie - I thought the man was still alive when I posted and thanks to Bonnie's Mom I'm fixing my error - (thank you girl !) So obviously he won't remember :( :( but he still deserved to be treated with respect. That really would give me bad dreams seeing that.....poor man - may he rest in peace.

Even the dead deserve respect. :(

My grandmother died in her home, while my mother was there caring for her. There was a very nice Mexican family living across the street, and my grandmother (not a nice woman) had been hateful to them, just because of their ethnicity.

Well, when her body was carried out and driven away, her neighbor was in his yard mowing the lawn, and my mom sd. that he stopped and stood at attention the whole time with his hand over his heart.

My grandmother lived a lonely life and died a very undignified death, with very few people to notice. That simple gesture of respect from a neighbor who had reason not to care has meant the world to my mother, to this day.

I got CHILLS reading that. I totally believe that.

I see that kind of thing happen all the time - there are many people who are the victims of bigots that are the MOST GRACIOUS of all...

people need to know that when their hearts are full of hate ...it only makes them look bad. No one is better than anyone and I just don't understand why in our world people actually think one race is better than another - :confused: That was such a touching thing to read about your grandmother - maybe her neighbors did see the good in her and looked past her behaviour.

I agree that this should be reported to their supervisors but perhaps not publicized. Their behavior was inexcusable but why hurt a whole department for the acts of two or three individuals? In a previous life I was a paramedic and I am dismayed by the described behavior. We were taught to respect every aspect of the patient's life and/or death. Covering the body, lowered voices etc. Of course we got rowdy at crews quarters and laughed at a lot of things - particularly our own blunders. Unusual (morbid) circumstances were always discussed and often joked about. Not knowing any of the other circumstances about this case, I would tread lightly.
Just my opinion.

this is just aweful! I'm sick just reading it. Something needs to be done about this.

I read this post last night.....I couldn't reply then b/c I was to upset....This is so sad :( .... The day my mom died (God rest her soul) She lives right in front of me, she called to tell me she had called 911 she was having prombles breathing and told me not to worry....So they came Keep in mind I was very sick and on 20 diff meds.....and they were down there a long time but I didn't think nothing my mom was a big woman....But when my dh came home from work he asked me why the fire truck was down at my moms I thought oh sh**t....My sil in called me and said she was dead... Oh my god I was so upset the guilt put me in a deep depression so more meds... All I came remember was her head it was 3 times the size of a normal head...I'm crying so hard now....That was almost 4 years ago.


But belive me if I saw someone doing that They would get a ear full, What do ppl think that they do not need repect because they have pass My lord I would hate to be in there shoes when they meet their maker.



Sorry for taking over your thread.

I think your daughter should report it to the ambulance service. Dead or not, paramedics need to have respect for those they are taking care of.

I'm sorry Connie, Big hugs to you and your daughter.

:hearts-xx :hearts-xx :hearts-xx

If the neighbors witnessed their behavior - people being who we are - I doubt the incident will remain just between the offenders and their supers, anyway. And, public opinion is pretty powerful when it comes to effecting change.

I agree
 

Very nicely said...!

That made me cry.....
 

Oh, that one got me.....I understand, what a testement.....it made me cry this morning.....

That Is Very Sad

How awful!

I agree that they were out of line and I think higher ups should be made aware of the situation. I do think that we should not jump to the conclusion that they are heartless and evil people. I work for Child Protective Services and the things that we see day to day are horrible and awful. I am constantly having nightmares about what I see. Over the years my workers and I have developed a horribly dark sence of humor. The things we say and laugh at would make you all think we were crazy and evil, but it is a defence mechanism that is necessary for us to maintain sanity. The key is you have to know when to shut it off. The things we say in the office should NOT be said out of the office because those that don't work with us will not understand and would be offended. I think that is were these guys messed up. They should have never acted that way in the public eye. That kind of comic relief needs to be saved for the "office"
Give them the benifit of the doubt. They see such awful things and have to deal with death so much that the only choice they may have had was to laugh because if they didn't they would break down crying and become useless.
Like I said I think their actions should be addressed, but don't label them as heartless or evil just yet.