Mom of Pregnant Woman Who Died While EMT Workers Allegedly Took Coffee Break: They're "Inhuman"

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

(CBS/iStockphoto)

(AP Photo/David Goldman)

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) - Cynthia Rennix, the mother of Eutisha Revee Rennix, a pregnant New York restaurant worker who collapsed while EMT workers allegedly did nothing, called the EMT worker's actions "inhuman."

Eutisha Revee Rennix and her unborn child later died.

Cynthia Rennix told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she could never have imagined an EMT refusing to aid someone. She says they shouldn't have those jobs if they aren't willing to get involved.

The grieving mother's anger echoed statements made Monday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg who called the behavior of emergency medical technicians Jason Green and Melissa Jackson inexcusable.

"There's no excuse whatsoever," he said Monday.

Photo: Au Bon Pain shop in Brooklyn where Rennix collapsed.

The Fire Department of New York suspended Green, a six-year veteran, and Jackson, a four-year veteran, without pay while the Dec. 9 incident is investigated, spokesman Steve Ritea said.

Witnesses, first speaking to The New York Post, said the medics told employees at the eatery in downtown Brooklyn to call for help and then left when they were asked to help Eutisha Revee Rennix, an employee who had collapsed.

Photo: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

An ambulance was called, and Rennix, 25, was taken to Long Island College Hospital, where she died a short time later. Her baby girl was too premature to survive. A message left for Rennix's mother Monday wasn't immediately returned.

Home telephone listings for Jackson and Green weren't unavailable. A call Monday evening to the EMT's union office wasn't immediately returned.

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."

A union spokesman said Monday that EMTs generally consider their jobs to be a 24-hour kind of thing.

"Our people tend to spring into action whether they're on duty, off duty, whatever they're doing," said Robert Ungar, spokesman for the Uniformed EMTS and Paramedics, FDNY.

The city's EMTs have a "very strong bond with the people of New York City that they serve," he said. "They view themselves as always being on duty."

He said the union was waiting to see what the results of the Fire Department's investigation would be.

"If there was unprofessional conduct by these EMTs, the union does not condone any type of conduct which in any way can harm members of the public," he said.

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by dangitdoug-2009 December 24, 2009 2:16 PM EST: If anyone has followed this story at all you would know that these two worked as dispatchers. They did not work in the field and had not worked directly with patients for several years. I would bet they were undestandably apprehensive about doing anything in this situation. You have fallen into the same selective information reporting that news media do time and time again. The fact that they are dispatchers has been conveniently left out of this story so everyone will feel outraged. Worked like a charm didn't it? Being EMT trained and being a skilled confident EMT are two completely different things. I even saw another story that called them paramedics which they were not. Congratulations to all of you for falling into the media publicity trap again.; Reply to this comment


by Nivlac_Skcaj December 24, 2009 12:48 PM EST: When you perform CPR on a human you are probably going to break some ribs. Taking this into account the majority of states have adopted "Good Samaritan" laws. These prevent you for being sued for trying to save someone's life. If you see a person in need do not be afraid to help.; Reply to this comment


by lileoj December 24, 2009 8:57 AM EST: Criminal Neglagance charges should be brought on these two.; Reply to this comment

by brianbwb-2009 December 24, 2009 3:56 AM EST

The chorus of "the EMT workers were wrong" is posted by many who ignore the fact that, without responding to a registered call, had the two even so much as touched the woman, and the woman died anyway, the lawsuits would have come fast and furious, with many of those now posting leading the calls for the heads of the workers.

Doctors walking down the street, who see a heart attack victim, wisely avoid malpractice suits by switching to the other side of the street.

Face it, suckers, you voted time and time again for politicians pushing the socio-economic policies that created this situation.

Money rules, and you all like it that way, so your castigation rings quite hollow.

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by weewillywonka December 24, 2009 10:43 AM EST: Oh go to your room, Brian....


by Nivlac_Skcaj December 24, 2009 12:21 PM EST: Please come into the 21st century. The laws have been changed in recent years to protect people who try to help. They would not have been sued. It is time to stop living in fear. Fear of this, fear of that, come on people stop being so afraid. A good samaritan will not be punished for trying to help.


by linfinster December 24, 2009 12:31 AM EST: Go to jail, go directly to jail.; Reply to this comment


by bubbajill December 23, 2009 7:39 PM EST: I believe Mr. Ungar was speaking about the majority of first responders, obviously not those two. Hopefully there will be criminal charges. If not, I can only pray that every day of their lives, they realize what their neglect and callous attitude did. IT KILLED A YOUNG WOMAN AND HER BABY!! Shame on them.; Reply to this comment


by mari1963 December 23, 2009 4:26 PM EST: I feel for the mother of this woman but why haven't we heard from the father of these babies? Where is the husband of the woman who died? Doesn't he have something to say?; Reply to this comment


by SusanStoHelit December 23, 2009 4:07 PM EST: Every other EMT I've ever heard of or seen - doesn't matter what the situation, they jump in and help. These two are some bizarre aberrations - and looks like they'll be fired soon. Suspended WITHOUT pay is a strong statement.

I can't count how many times I've heard the line in the news, "John Jones, an off duty (EMT/paramedic/firefighter/police officer, etc.) rendered assistance until the ambulance arrived". We don't even notice how often these people jump in and help.; Reply to this comment

by PR_in_Alabama December 23, 2009 3:58 PM EST

"Our people tend to spring into action whether they're on duty, off duty, whatever they're doing," said Robert Ungar, spokesman for the Uniformed EMTS and Paramedics, FDNY.

BULL $HIT.....This two were only on break and still fail too help.

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by SusanStoHelit December 23, 2009 4:03 PM EST: Absolute truth. EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, police - ALL of them spring into action, even when off duty, on break, on vacation, etc. It's so common it isn't even newsworthy - there'll just be a little note of this or that EMT who was out shopping, helping this person who collapsed, etc. It's so common we don't even notice how these people are always on duty. As it should be.

These are the ONLY two who have ever been reported to fail to do so - and as a result, they are suspended without pay as the city looks into the incident.