Rochester Mayor Malik Evans is calling for an investigation into American Medical Response (AMR), the ambulance service contracted to serve the city, following the death of a man last year.
In a news conference Thursday, Evans said a city man experiencing a medical crisis died two weeks after the event.
Video footage of the incident appears to show a man saying he was having trouble breathing and being asked to allegedly leave an ambulance back on Nov. 30, 2023 by someone on scene that, at this time, has not been clearly identified.
In the footage, Rochester Police are present. An EMT also appears to discuss the man allegedly jumping at the ambulance crew earlier.
According to Evans, the man was asked to get out of the ambulance and wait on the side of the street for another ambulance to arrive to take him to the hospital. The man then appears to fall to the ground. Evans says two minutes passed before the man received medical care.
The mayor is now calling on AMR to conduct its own in-depth investigation into what happened that night. In addition, Rochester Police Chief David Smith is calling for an immediate internal investigation into the incident by RPD’s Professional Standards Section.
“I have asked AMR to conduct its own investigation into what happened that night,” Evans said Thursday. “I want to understand why they chose to call the police. I want to understand why personnel required someone in distress to be removed from an ambulance instead of being taken directly to the hospital. We must get to the bottom of this. We must understand how and why this occurred and identify processes and safeguards to ensure that this does not ever happen again.”
Evans says he learned of the incident two days ago from relatives of the man who died and released the footage in an effort to be transparent.
An AMR spokesperson released a statement to Spectrum News 1, saying:
"With respect to the City of Rochester's January 11th press conference about a November 30, 2023 incident. We reached out to the family and do not have permission to speak about the details of this incident due to patient privacy laws. We viewed the video for the first time yesterday and have launched an internal investigation. We have also requested an investigation by the New York State Department of Health Bureau of EMS and Trauma Systems."
On Friday, Jan. 19, Global Medical Response representing AMR, issued a statement, saying the crew involved in the incident have been on administrative leave:
"American Medical Response (AMR) extends our deepest condolences to the family of the patient involved in the event that occurred on November 30, 2023.
AMR recognizes the complex healthcare challenges that vulnerable populations in our communities face. We understand that we cannot fully resolve these challenges in isolation, which is why we are committed to engaging with the community, faith leaders, and our partners in care to enhance the quality and safety of the services we provide for the Rochester community.
We are taking immediate action to address the community’s concerns and frustration regarding this event. While patient privacy laws limit our ability to discuss the specific details of the incident, we have taken several steps in line with our commitment to transparency and accountability.
Within 24 hours of viewing the city’s body camera video footage of the incident, AMR independently contacted the New York State Department of Health Bureau of EMS and Trauma Systems and requested a formal investigation. Their team started gathering information and conducting interviews with all involved AMR employees on January 16. We were told that their investigation could take up to 90 days to complete. Additionally, the City of Rochester is conducting an independent investigation, and we have a direct and ongoing line of communication with City leadership.
The crew involved in the November 30 incident remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of all investigations. We are working closely with SEIU Local 200 to ensure the investigative process is thorough, respecting all the guidelines set forth in our collective bargaining agreement.
Internally, AMR’s national patient safety team is conducting a detailed review of the event and is evaluating our operational protocols, policies, procedures, and training, along with human factors. This review began on January 17. At its conclusion, we will promptly implement the necessary changes. We remain unwavering in our commitment to the Rochester community and are focused on continuous improvement to provide the highest quality of care and support for all those we serve."
