A Blountstown, Florida, woman went to Liberty Calhoun Hospital complaining of stomach pains and difficulty breathing earlier this week. Despite having an oxygen tank and family members with her to validate her suffering, hospital staff felt her vitals were fine and would not admit her to the hospital. When Barbara Dawson, 57, refused to leave the emergency room and demanded further treatment, police were called and she was handcuffed, forcibly removed and placed into a police car. Family members begged the hospital staff to give Dawson back her oxygen tank, but a hospital nurse refused, stating that she was fine and did not need oxygen. Dawson was arrested for disorderly conduct and trespassing.
When police arrived at the jail, the arresting officer opened the door and Dawson, still in handcuffs, collapsed. The officer removed her handcuffs and called for medical help and she was transported back to the hospital. Despite her condition the same hospital staff stated her vitals were fine, but this time a doctor overruled the staff and decided to admit her. Two hours later Dawson was pronounced dead and now the family is furious. Her relatives allege that she was mistreated by the hospital staff who refused to provide proper medical care and also by the police. The family is now planning to sue the hospital and police.
“The most reasonable thing to do is to let her sit there and be able to settle down until she felt well. Instead, she is forcibly removed and placed in cuffs. The early facts of this case should cause a great concern for everyone,” said attorney Daryl Parks, who is representing Dawson’s family.
The hospital has defended its decision and stated that staff did everything they could to save Dawson. An autopsy has been performed but the exact cause of death has not yet been announced.
