Arizona officials voted on Wednesday to award a family $2 million because firefighters refused to transport a 2-year-old boy to the hospital hours before he died.
KPNX reported that Abraham Clugston’s mother called 911 in 2022 after he suffered his first seizure. Phoenix firefighters responded 10 minutes later, but they refused to transport Clugston to the hospital, telling his pleading mother to give him Tylenol and Ibuprofen because seizures were normal.
The responding firefighters allegedly also told Clugston’s mother she was “overreacting.”
“They called out, relying on Phoenix EMS and relied on their consultation, their advice, saying that he doesn’t need to be taken to the hospital. He’s fine,” said attorney Breann Slack, who represented Clugston’s family, told KPNX.
The wrongful death lawsuit stated that firefighters never took Clugston’s vitals or temperature, even though he also had a fever. Clugston’s mother gave him the medications as firefighters left, but relatives found the toddler unresponsive five hours later.
The family called 911 again. This time, Clugston was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to KPNX, the Phoenix City Council unanimously voted to award Clugston’s family $2 million. A statement issued to the news outlet indicated that an internal review was conducted and steps were taken to improve procedures and training. However, city officials did not disclose specific changes to protocol.
Meanwhile, Slack commented, “[Firefighters] make mistakes, but as the parent, as in this case, my client, knows their child better than the city of Phoenix and and it was, unfortunately, proven that day.”
[Feature Photo: KPNX]
