Lawyer for EMTs accused of ignoring dying woman in NYC eatery decries ‘rush to judgment’

Accused EMTs’ lawyer decries ‘rush to judgment’

NEW YORK — The lawyer for two New York City emergency medical technicians accused of refusing to help a dying pregnant woman says his clients are being vilified by a rush to judgment.

Douglas Rosenthal tells The Associated Press that he’s confident the facts will show that Jason Green and Melissa Jackson acted “appropriately” at the Brooklyn cafe on Dec. 9.

The two were at the eatery when employee Eutisha Revee Rennix collapsed. Witnesses have said the EMTs told workers to call 911, then left when they were asked to help the 25-year-old woman.

Rennix died at a hospital shortly afterward. Her baby was too premature to survive.

Green and Jackson have been suspended without pay. The Fire Department is investigating. A criminal probe is also under way.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

NEW YORK (AP) — Two emergency medical technicians accused of refusing to help a dying pregnant woman are “inhuman” and shouldn’t have taken those jobs if they weren’t willing to get involved, the woman’s mother said Tuesday.

“These are people who are supposed to take a minute to be concerned,” Cynthia Rennix told The Associated Press.

Rennix’s daughter, 25-year-old Eutisha Revee Rennix, died at a hospital Dec. 9, shortly after collapsing in the Au Bon Pain shop in Brooklyn where she worked. Her baby was too premature to survive.

Witnesses said the EMTs were on their break and told employees to call 911, then left when they were asked to help the woman.

The Fire Department on Monday suspended Jason Green, a six-year member, and Melissa Jackson, a four-year member, without pay. The department is investigating, as is the state Department of Health, which oversees the emergency medical services system. A criminal probe is also underway.

Cynthia Rennix said she never could have imagined that an emergency services worker would refuse to help someone.

“You are very inhuman; you don’t need to have a job like you do,” she said of the two workers.

Fire Department spokesman Steve Ritea said that all FDNY members “take an oath to assist others whenever they’re in need of emergency medical care. It’s their sworn duty.”

Rennix said she has yet to decide whether she is going to take any legal action in connection with her daughter’s death. She is taking care of her daughter’s 3-year-old son.