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Man Found Dead 5 Hours After Being Evaluated By Fire/EMS Personnel

Updated 2:56 PM EDT, Thu, Dec 4, 2008

 

About five hours after he was evaluated by D.C. Fire and EMS personnel, a man was found dead in Northeast Wednesday morning.
 
Ed Givens' mother called an ambulance to his home on Division Avenue late Tuesday when he complained of chest pains.

 
The 39-year-old Givens wanted to go to a hospital, his family said, but he was told he probably had a case of acid reflux and advised to take milk of magnesium.
 
Givens was found dead about 5 a.m. Wednesday.
 
The D.C. Fire and EMS Department is investigating the case.

Comments (21)

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  • A GOOD FRIEND Thursday, Dec 4 at 3:01 PM FLAG COMMENT YOU KNOW YOU PEOPLE KILL ME.....THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO THIS STORY....MY FRIEND HAD CHEST PAINS...THEY TOLD HIM WHAT TO DO AND HE DID IT...THINKING THAT SURLEY THE EMS WOULDN'T TELL HIM ANYTHING WRONG.....AND NOW AT 39YRS OLD WITH TWO SONS....HE'S DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW I'M NOT SAYING THAT ALL EMS WORKERS ARE BAD BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE....BUT THE ONES THAT RESPONDED THIS NIGHT SHOULD NOT HAVE A JOB...BECAUSE #1 THEY ... MORE >
  • Fed Up Thursday, Dec 4 at 2:13 PM FLAG COMMENT I believe there is more to this story, most the paramedics in the city are good, hard working dedicated professionals. That being said, mistakes happen. Especially in EMERGENCY situations. A MISTAKE does not necessarily make the the city or the medics liable for damages. If they refused transport to the gentleman. Then a lawsuit is the answer. But otherwise unless there was nelegence we should all reserve judgement. Finally to ... MORE >
  • Anonymous Thursday, Dec 4 at 11:01 AM FLAG COMMENT Being a medic, I understand the decision making process by the DC medics. However, despite all the signs and symptoms, NO prehospital provider can decide with any reasonable certainty that a patient's chest pain is not cardiac. Wonder if this guy's reflux was actually an MI?
  • HHMMM Thursday, Dec 4 at 10:37 AM FLAG COMMENT What happend during the five hours between the time he was advised to take milk of magnesium and the time he was found dead? If he was my beloved family member or friend I would have called 911 again or taken him to the ER myself. Have we learned anything from the death of one David E. Rosenbaum? There is more than enough blame to go around. We must find a solution.
  • Dean Thursday, Dec 4 at 10:22 AM FLAG COMMENT In DC, Maryland, & Virginia when someone is complaining of chest pains they always take them to the hospital and the hospital holds them for 24 hours minimum for observation. I would have to agree with BR there is more to the story and family sorry for your loss, but fess up the truth.

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