Airport Death Doctor: Police Blew It

Family's Pathologist Agrees On Accidental Strangulation, But Says It Could Have Been Prevented

(CBS/AP)  A private pathologist hired by the family of a woman who died in police custody at the Phoenix airport agrees that she accidentally strangled herself - but he also blamed police for her death.

Dr. Cyril Wecht agreed with a medical examiner's earlier report that an intoxicated Carol Anne Gotbaum accidentally strangled herself on her shackles in a holding room at Sky Harbor International Airport on Sept. 28.

But Wecht also said officers roughed up the 45-year-old mother of three, who was flying from New York to an alcohol treatment center in Tucson, and said they should have watched her as she sat in the holding room alone, screaming.

"This is a person who cries out for medical care, attention, appraisal, evaluation, appropriate treatment," Wecht told The Associated Press. "Anyone with a modicum of training would know this."

Wecht said Gotbaum's symptoms and behavior might have indicated any number of problems.

"That kind of erratic behavior has a differential diagnosis in medicine of many things - too much sugar, too little sugar, brain bleed in or around the brain, endocrine, metabolic causes, pulmonary function," Wecht said on CBS News' The Early Show.

"She was treated cruelly, as if she were some kind of a terrorist, which of course she was not," Wecht said.

Wecht said he sent his findings to family lawyer Michael Manning.

Police spokesman Sgt. Andy Hill said officers followed proper procedures when they arrested Gotbaum, the step-daughter-in-law of New York City's public advocate.

"The moment they knew she was under medical distress, they made every effort to try and save her life," including CPR, Hill said. The department is reviewing its procedures to see whether any policy changes are needed.

"They did not notice her until she had already collapsed, and she then was in extremis," Wecht Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm.

Gotbaum's family has accused police of mistreating her. They have not decided whether to sue police, but the Maricopa County medical examiner's report "makes it more likely they'll make a claim," Manning said.

The government autopsy report "says she was obviously sick before she went into the room, and she was left unattended with a 20-inch chain, and she asphyxiated on that chain," Manning said.

The attorney said Phoenix police did not act appropriately. Local and national police standards call for officers to notify medical authorities when they're arresting someone who appears physically or mentally ill - not after the person is in custody and unconscious, he said.

"It doesn't appear that they did" notify medical authorities in time, Manning said. "If they don't do that, if they make that mistake, then they're not supposed to leave that person shackled up and unobserved."

A government autopsy said that Gotbaum was intoxicated on alcohol and prescription antidepressants, and that her blood-alcohol level was 0.24 percent - three times Arizona's legal limit of 0.08 for driving while intoxicated.

Gotbaum became enraged when the gate crew didn't let her on the plane to Tucson, police said. In the holding room, she was found unconscious with the handcuffs up around her neck.

"Even up to the point when she has stepped out of the handcuffs and brought them in front of her, had she been observed even up to that point, her life would have been saved," Wecht said.

[gramto7]

Blame for this should go to the husband/family for not accompanying her to Tulsa! If they had, she probably wouldn''t have become intoxicated, and wouldn''t have thrown the temper tantrum that got her arrested in the first place. Why should police officers be held medically accountable for every temper tantrum they have to deal with? The area hospitals would soon learn that most of the people coming in for clearance were fakes! It would do nothing more than tie up hospital beds and funds that are needed for caring for truly ill people.

[rconross]

I agree with gramto11, although fault lies all around on this one. Where was her family?...her "loving husband"?? If this woman was as "sick" as they claim she was, why was she traveling to Tulsa on her own? I know my husband would never even think of doing that. They should have been there for her. From what I''ve read, it seems that her tantrum was more behavioral, rather than medical, but, I do agree with the county coroner...this woman should not have been left alone. Someone should have been in that room at all times, especially if she was behaving that way. Everything usually happens for a reason and the authorities must use this tragic occurrence to review their procedures so that it doesn''t happen again.

[giord1la]

I am so sick of hearing people blaming other for a death. This woman was drunk and belligerent. If her loving family was so concerned about her well being they should have been with her. Give it a rest, keep the blame where it belongs.

[Rontimcoe]

In my opinion, She was murdered by these rentacops.
We have no rights anymore. The police are never responsible.
It is just like Russia here these days and it gets worse every day.
Unless, of course, you happen to be black, then you are treated with kid gloves.
Isn''t that ironic.

[jetlizhan]

i totally agree that she should not have been left alone in the chains/shackles - however, she should NOT have been traveling alone either.

[mennowoman]

If only her absentee husband or her famous mother-in-law had been able to take just a few moments of their precious time to fly WITH her to the rehab hospital, they would have been able to prevent her death. By neglecting to fly with her, they were saying that she wasn''t worth their bother. So shouting that she was taken from them prematurely due to negligence is correct--but it is their negligence, not the police. The job of the airport police is airport security, not medicine. If the family knew she was seriously ill and put her on a plane alone with no one to assist her and keep her out of trouble, that''s their fault, not the police. I sincerely hope they realize that before they file a frivilous lawsuit. I doubt any jury would side with them.

[eggy1620]

I doubt any jury would side with them: Posted by mennowoman

Actually, I%u2019m sure that a NY jury would side with them. But fortunately, this happened in Maricopa County. A place where people still believe in personal responsibility.

[Krazcarl]

I love this the police get off but still can be sued for being pathatic. Any fool won''t be this it''s like a plea deal the faimly will get trust founds for the children the cops just look a "little" rough. They went in and shut her up ask any victum of police abuse of wich I am. I want to say I don''t hate police one saved my life but anyone that buys I have high groung in Fl.Your not normaly chained in a holding cell it''s not like you can go anywhere they were being cruel and going to teach her a lesson

[displeased]

The doctor states "This is a person who cries out for medical care, attention, appraisal, evaluation, appropriate treatment," Wecht told The Associated Press. "Anyone with a modicum of training would know this."

How are the police supposed to tell the difference between someone who is simply drunk in public or someone who needs medical attention, but while she is drunk and resisting? And they had no idea of her background. If her husband had been with her, he would have informed the police of her situation and all would be well. Maybe you folks should try putting yourselves in the police''s shoes.

[myidoncbs]

To all the people blaming the husband/family:

You have NO IDEA why she was alone. You don''t know ANYTHING about the circumstances. You make a lot of assumptions. ****. I know it helps you authoritarians to sleep at night, believing that everything bad that ever happens is because the victim "deserved" it. But NO ONE deserves to be treated the way this woman was treated.

Legally and morally, the cops who restrained her had a duty to prevent this tragedy. They are guilty of criminal negligence. They claim they "followed procedures". If so, then their procedures are fatally flawed. "Following orders" is NO EXCUSE.

Some of you re/tards excuse the cops because "she was acting crazy so they had to treat her rough" and some of you excuse the cops because "they couldn''t have known she was crazy and would kill herself". These can''t both be true. And neither excuse is valid.

The moment a cop puts you under arrest, THE COP assumes responsibility for your safety. Cops are NOT judge, jury, and executioner. Their job is to detain you. These cops ignored the OBVIOUS fact that this woman was abnormally upset, they roughed her up, making the problem worse, and they left her to die, desperate, alone, and confused. I consider that EVIL.

[eggy1620]

Legally and morally, the cops who restrained her had a duty to prevent this tragedy: Posted by MyIDonCBS

Their job is to detain you: Posted by MyIDonCBS

Well MyIDon, which is it?

[slim1h2o]

Actually, I%u2019m sure that a NY jury would side with them. But fortunately, this happened in Maricopa County. A place where people still believe in personal responsibility.

Posted by eggy1620 at 09:41 AM : Nov 13, 2007

Oh really? I used to live in Maricopa county. I had my truck stolen, not once, but twice in that godforsaken county. Is that your kind of personal responsibility? When the truck was stolen the second time I called the police again, and was told that they had to let the guy go after the 1st time, even when he was caught red handed. I asked, why? I was told he didn''t have a valid I.D on him. Again I ask, Is that your idea of personal responsibility? Cops down there are a joke! BTW, the truck was stolen twice in 10 days. So a perp. goes free! Thanks *** cops, hope that family sues you to bankruptcy

[wheezel3]

Why is this story getting so much attention? Because the media is in the pocket of certain groups of people. If this person didn''t have some sort of Jewish connection, you''d never have heard of it and it sure wouldn''t be brought up again and again. Where''s the part of the story about just how aggressive this person was acting? Where is the discussion, by the media, of her travelling alone? Where are the reporters for actual newsworthy stories? Not in MSM. GRIND GRIND GRIND that liberal axe, media lapdogs.

[wheezel3]

Why is this story getting so much attention? Because the media is in the pocket of certain groups of people. If this person didn''t have some sort of Jewish connection, you''d never have heard of it and it sure wouldn''t be brought up again and again. Where''s the part of the story about just how aggressive this person was acting? Where is the discussion, by the media, of her travelling alone? Where are the reporters for actual newsworthy stories? Not in MSM. GRIND GRIND GRIND that liberal axe, media lapdogs. Cry cry cry your alligator tears, family members, while you plan how to spend all the money you''ll undoubtedly get from your lawsuit.

[wheezel3]

Why is this story getting so much attention? Because the media is in the pocket of certain groups of people. If this person didn''t have some sort of Jewish connection, you''d never have heard of it and it sure wouldn''t be brought up again and again. Where''s the part of the story about just how aggressive this person was acting? Where is the discussion, by the media, of her travelling alone? Where are the reporters for actual newsworthy stories? Not in MSM. GRIND GRIND GRIND that liberal axe, media lapdogs. Cry cry cry your alligator tears, family members, while you plan how to spend all the money you''ll undoubtedly get from your lawsuit. In the meantime, real news goes unreported.

[pghlady3]

they are police officers, they are not doctors. they had a job of restraining her. if she were in such bad shape WHY WAS SHE ALONE. if she was so bad off she should have been traveling with someone else.

[ioweign]

But fortunately, this happened in Maricopa County. A place where people still believe in personal responsibility.

Posted by eggy1620 at 09:41 AM : Nov 13, 2007



If that is true then why and how did this happen ?

[slim1h2o]

If that is true then why and how did this happen ?

Posted by IOWEIGN at 10:18

That was my point as well.

[oeangus]

What a joke: this doctor, saying the police treated her cruelly. That''s quite the MEDICAL opinion, LOL.

[marycircle]

Why was she left alone to fly cross country in her so called fragile state????? If her family was so concerned about her why did she go alone? Her toxic report shows she mixed her pills with booze and she could have died just from that but she was totally out of control and I bet more then anything they gave her a time out or cooling off period to get control. From the video she was yelling and making a sceen in the middle of an airport what are the police suppose to do let her? Who''s to say if someone told her to shut up she wouldn''t have attacked a person? They had to do something .....like their jobs and take her into custody. How were they to know she would be so out of her mind to try to get free from her hand cuffs that she would do what she did? I bet if she was with a family member or friend she wouldn''t have been drinking or acting like a crazy person. So if anyone is to blame take a look at the people who didn''t take good care of their sick loved one THE FAMILY! Now after the fact she is dead they care.

[myidoncbs]

eggy1620, asks. "which is it?" meaning, is the cops'' duty to deatain you OR to protect you. He is being deliberately stu/pid. Once the cops detain you, they assume the responsibility for your safety. The reason for this is simple: at that point, they have taken away your own ability to protect your safety.

For God''s sake, people, wake up! Once I was arrested for "failing to yield" at a stop sign, and held in jail for a while because I had no cash and my license wasn''t with me at the time. They took away my belt and even my shoe laces, "so I couldn''t hang myself"!!!!! That shows you how much care they are required to use to ensure your safety!

ALl you people who want to blame the woman or her family, ****. You are ignorant fools, begging to be abused by gestapo cops!

[Scooter68]

This is a classic case of bad behavior by parties on both sides of the case. It is becoming clear that the police on scene were either indifferent or unresponsive to the situation. The reasons for this appear yet to be discovered. The victim and her family also bear responsiblity in this case, they and she were adequately aware of her situation and should have sought out a means to safely get her to the treatment facility. Even an adult, when in her physical/mental state, should not be left to their own devices.
Hopefully the courts, when the become involved will seek not to extract dire punishment, but will assess a means to insure that adequate training and responsive personnell will be in place as soon as humanly possible to the degree that is fitting for this situation. Not all airports should/can have a battery of officers trained for any situation but this airport is not a small community facility. Not all families can be everywhere for everyone in their family, but this family was aware and concerned about this woman. On both sides there were errors in judgement that led to a tragic death but neither side will really benefit from the standard monetary award that courts are so fond of granting. This case deserves a model resolution to address the problems on all sides.

[extremophil]

"A private pathologist hired by the family....sent his findings to the family lawyer". So...what the He11 do you expect these morons to say about the case?? $$$$$$$$$$

[nexgen99]

The family is responsible for this not the police.

[runningralph]

Bottom line: the woman killed HERSELF. The taxpayers didn''t do it! Airport security didn''t do it. If anybody is sued in this mess I hope they stand their ground and refuse to settle. That would be a bad precedent.

[nexgen99]

easy to figure out why the gate agent wouldn''''t let her on the plane...

Say her name out loud.

With the idiots working for the airlines....

Posted by Nancy_Naive
===========================

Are you inferring that because she was a Jew this happened?

[fibonacci_]

I have noticed some in the media have falsely pronounced her name making it sound like "God Bomb", that is totally incorrect in German at least. It sounds more like "got-boum".

[fibonacci_]

I very much agree ozilot, that is the big question. They are at least as responsible as the police in this case. After all, they knew of her psychological problems when the police only had her behavior at that moment to go on.

[cydne35150]

The woman threw a hissy-fit and paid the price. And should probably serve as an example to those parents who believe that temper tantrums are a valid form of self-expression for their children.

[dvillegas43-2009]

Of course it was the Phoenix Airport''s police fault. Wecht is getting paid to make that determination. He''s a hired gun hired by the family to show that the airport screwed up. The family is not taking any responsibility to the fact that if she was that messed up, she shouldn''t have been travelling alone. She was a drunk who decided to have one last binge before rehab. The police saw a drunk screaming and tripping over herself in the airport and processed her as a drunk. If you ask me (which you aren''t) I think the family made the mistake of allowing her to travel alone.

[ava52]

I beleive the police made the mistake. Unfortunetly when I was 20 years old, 35 years ago, I was arrested for disorderly conduct, I was drunk, the police put me in a small cell and took my belt, when I asked why there response was to make sure I would not hang my self!! So why did they leave her alone in a room with a chain long enough to strangle herself???

[pam1sadge]

The family is not trained on how to deal with these issues and the police are. The family, for whatever reasons, were not present when this incident unfolded; the police were. At that moment it was the responsibility of the police to deal with the situation professionally and competently. They did not. The next article down from this one claims the NYC Police Shoot AND Kill A Teenager Holding a Hairbrush! More incompetent COPS! Is someone going to blame the parents for the teenagers death?

[oleander8]

Airport police saw an out of control drunk and acted appropriately - they aren''t medical doctors and they had no indication from the family or the ''victim'' that mental issues were in play. The buck stops with the "angry" family.

[gunnerv1]

This is a person who tried to escape from her restraints (handcuffs) who was placed in a holding cell (drunktank) that accidentally strangled (choked) herself to death. Don''t blame the police for your own stupidity

[ladyephesus1]

Good point Ava52!

[ladyephesus1]

Anyone who is an alcoholic, has an illness.
If they had questioned her properly and found out she had something to drink, then things may have turned out different. Any smart cop would go in and ask the woman questions, like "Have you been drinking?, "Have you taken any medications??

Two simple questions like this could have saved a life.

Nuff said.

Undertrained cops treating everybody like terrorist will continue to cause problems if they dont know what the heck they are doing.

She didnt look like she was from the Middle East nor was she traveling there. Cops are like airbrains if you ask me.

[shanev137]

More proof that the mentally ill are criminal and deserve to die. What a lovely police state we live in.

[avesmon]

I only have one question and one comment. Why, if these people are so wealthy, did they let her fly alone. It''s been noted that she did not want to be accompanied, but if her family knew she was depressed, why didn''t they hire someone to keep an eye on her to keep her out of trouble? If the family sues the Phoenix Police Department for neglect, then in turn, the family should be sued for neglect in the care of a mental impaired family member.

[rosevk]

when I go to an airport, I don''t want to listen to some drunken, obnoxious person arguing with the airline agents or airport security. Dr. Wecht should get an oscar and a hefty bonus for his interview on the morning news putting all the blame for this woman''s death totally on the airport security, wow, who doesn''t see a major lawsuit coming from her ''caring'' family into the millions, Dr. Wecht will certainly benefit from this! I guess according to
Dr. Wecht the airport security should have just let her disturb every one else and get away with her tantrums or perhaps he expected them to better diagnose her condition based on their ''medical degree''.

[trumpthumper]

Wow...the well known "Doctor for Dollars", Cyril Wecht
has painted quite a portrait of this sad, depressed, dependent, intoxicated, needy, angry, alcoholic who was on her way to rehab. Her condition was well known to her family, and her medical team in NYC. How then does this family - who will seek justice thru a monetary judgement - allow their loved one - again, with problems enough to be put in rehab , to travel ALONE?!?!?!?! If everyone knew she needed help, why didn''t someone spring for the price of a coach ticket and accompany her to Tucson?? Hmmm...I guess their busy social calendars were just too full to be concerned. Wanna bet they make time to show up in court and ask for millions of dollars? Count on it! The police didn''t neglect Ms. Gottbaum....her family did! If they only cared enough to sit with her on the plane. Before they try to lay blame on the police they ought to take a collective look in the mirror. Shame on them!

[jowand]

When and while you have someone handcuffed, or otherwise restrained'' you are fully responsible for what happens to them.

[trumpthumper]

Wow...the well known "Doctor for Dollars", Cyril Wecht, has painted quite a portrait of this sad, depressed, dependent, intoxicated, needy, angry, alcoholic who was on her way alone to rehab.

Her condition was very well known to her family, and her medical team in NYC. How then, does her family - who will seek justice thru a tear-filled request for a mega-million dollar monetary judgement - allow their loved one to travel ALONE?!?!?!?!

If everyone knew she needed help, why didn''t someone spring for the price of a coach ticket and accompany her to Tucson??

Hmmm...I guess their social calendars were just too full to be concerned. Wanna bet they make time to show up in court and ask for millions of dollars? You can count on it!

The police didn''''t neglect Ms. Gottbaum....her family did! If they only cared enough to sit with her on the plane. Before they try to lay blame on the police they ought to take a collective look in the mirror. Shame on them!

[dredre2k]

I don''t think the police can be blamed here. People who act unruly and uncivilized need to be restrained... This woman was so out of control that she strangled herself... tragic. She''s responsible for her actions. It would be different if she was improperly restrained by police, but she wasn''t.
Tragic that she died, but she was responsible for her own actions.

[mjpage]

I feel bad for the family but I absolutely feel the police handled the situation appropriately. It''s ridiculous to expect cops to have treated her differently than any other rowdy drunk person. Hindsight is 20/20. No one could have possibly predicted she''s kill herself.

[jowand]

I don''''t think the police can be blamed here. People who act unruly and uncivilized need to be restrained... This woman was so out of control that she strangled herself... tragic. She''''s responsible for her actions. It would be different if she was improperly restrained by police, but she wasn''''t.
Tragic that she died, but she was responsible for her own actions.
Posted by dredre2k at 01:13 PM : Nov 13, 2007

You can go find sympathy between s**t and syphilis in the dictionary.

[gpdrvr]

She needed to go all the way to AZ for treatment, nothing local so the family could say ''Hi'' on the weekends, or did they want her so far away they couldn''t have any face time?

[gpdrvr]

p.s. Very Obvious some of the commentors have never been west of Ohio, there is a difference between Tulsa and Tuscon, there is even a state in between, Texas......

[ymaguoc]

dredre2k- I absolutely agree!

Police are always getting the blame for the actions of others. It is NOT their responsibility to babysit a drunk woman in a holding cell. It''s sad that she died, but that is the result of HER OWN ACTIONS...not something the police did. She''s the one who drank, and she''s the stupid one who strangled herself. Stop bashing the cops! They are doing the best job they can. Until you are in their shoes you are in no position to judge them!

[jowand]

You do not know what you are talking about, same as all the other idiotic cop bashers on this board.

The drunken bimbo killed herself.

Posted by tuckerndfw at 01:34 PM : Nov 13, 2007

I''m not cop bashing, everyone makes mistakes. When you have someone HANDCUFFED, like it or not you are responsible for them.

[jowand]

p.s. Very Obvious some of the commentors have never been west of Ohio, there is a difference between Tulsa and Tuscon, there is even a state in between, Texas......

Posted by GPDRVR at 01:36 PM : Nov 13, 2007

Don''t forget Oklamhoma and New Mexico