Woman Alive, DC Medic Pronounced Her Dead
A veteran DC Fire and EMS medic is off the streets this morning after a major mistake. That medic declared an 88-year-old woman dead. Just a few minutes later - she was alive!
Darrell Randall gets around awfully well at 89-years-old. But even he admits he lost a step or two around 5:30 Friday morning when a DC paramedic told him that Mildred, his wife of 61 years, was dead.
But just a couple of minutes later Darrell Randall found out that medic had made a mistake and Mildred was very much alive.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the paramedic from DC Fire and EMS Medic Unit 31 evaluated Mildred Randall after she collapsed in the bathroom. The cardiac monitor apparently showed a flat line. That's when the medic left to give Darrell Randall the bad news. But he was wrong and luckily somebody else was there to correct the mistake.
Like many upper Northwest residents, Darrell Randall dialed the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad when he called for help Friday morning. The BCC Squad notified DC and also sent its own ambulance.
The sources say the BCC crew got upstairs just in time to hear the DC medic pronounce Mrs. Randall dead. But about a minute or two after the medic went to tell her husband she was gone, the BCC crew noticed Mildred Randall took a breath and then they discovered a pulse. The DC crew was called back and began work on her.
Mildred Randall who has diabetes and other health problems is expected to be released from Sibley Hospital as early as Tuesday and Darrell Randall despite the ordeal has no hard feelings toward anyone.
Chief Ned Sherburne of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad tells 9 News the crew brought quality of care issues about the call at the Randall's home to his attention. Chief Sherburne is conducting his own investigation and also contacted his DC counterparts.
DC Fire and EMS spokesman Alan Etter tells 9 News an investigation is underway by the department's medical director.
