The Woman Who Died in the Waiting Room

What was done to this woman was totally uncalled for. Everyone deserve a right to medical attention. No matter what their race or mental issues are. The people at that hospital just ignore her, plan and simple. If that was one of are family member, How would you feel? Hope the family sue's the heck out of them.

I worked in a Department of Psychiatry at a city hospital for 18 years and most patients got decent care when they presented to our separate and dedicated psychiatric emergency room. The ER was staffed by residents when I was there and a senior psychiatrist was on call or actually physically presnt 24/7, The indifference in this case is heaertbreaking and not necessary. The people responsible should indeed be fired and possibly charged with criminally negligent homicide. Just don't tar and feather everyone because of this case. Learn from it and prevent the death of the next patient. I hope that the family collects a bundle but also has the satisfaction that their loved one's death results in better care for everyone in her situation.

let me guess? this place is still in business right?

Might want to spell-check your heading for this article from
"Medecine" to "Medicine". THX

Where was ANY of her family, that now wants to sue???

I was led to believe this would only happen if we went to a universal health care plan.

It is a shame that she had to go this way. I pray that the family will forgive. Becasue the truth is that the nurse that kicked her and saw her lifeless will never forget that day and will live with her forever. Let that be the difference that healthcare workers make going forward nurses are caregivers that are supposed to care not kick a person in distress as it could have been the nurse's mother father or sister. Tania R/Florida

Firstly, my prayers to the family over the loss of a woman dying in this manner. I wonder why posting such a We need to really take a good look at this issue, and our jails and streets would be cleaned up, crime would go down. We, as a country DO NOT want to know about mental illness. Shame on us.It is next to impossible to get help for mental patients. I know, as my daughter is

This is one of the most terrible things I have ever seen. It is so tremendously sad and pitiful. God bless her soul and bless her family. This is so tragic.

The last part of my comment was that was cut off: you don't have to be illegal or legal not to get good help in the system. Being mentally ill I have found out targets you for the worst treatments that society and the mental hospital will give you. I have been in Ms. Green's shoes and I was one of the lucky ones that through the Grace of God made it. So I only hope that by posting my comments some will understand it through someone who has "been there done that before", but came out on the other side. I am no longer ashamed of myself, I love me for me and that's enough for me.

I looked at most of the comments and being someone that years ago fit into needing help like this and having so called insurance that played out the same day that my "good job" did is really something. Ms. Green was treated like she was nothing because when you have mental illness most people including family and the person think and feel that you are week, in pure, cursed, full of demons, that you did something wrong so you are being punished by God or my all time favorite that my own mother felt that "she didn't want anybody to know because it would reflect poorly on her". As you see families and society including us the mentally ill are made to feel like we did something wrong in being ill. If you admit that you have a mental illness in Texas where I'm from they have a medical review board decide if you can keep your drivers license then they medically red flag your license so that anytime you go and renew it all of your business is out there for the people giving you your license. Jobs when they find out about your mental illness they tell you that "they can't get insurance to cover you working there and that no one will want to work or sit next to you". Then the care that you get even in the hospitals that your so called insurance covers it was driven by how many days of care that the insurance would cover and you had to beg to be commited.Then the state run hospital, I was in there so doped up that once I thought that I was in there for 3 days it turned out to be 3 wks. The doctor played mind games so that she could report to the law that you was going to come out and hurt others, she told you that she was going to do just that and did, I got arrested behind her so called treatment,but wasn't she the one that was in trusted to helping me? Now you are doubly in the system. Family can take full advantage of you so I can see why Ms. Green wouldn't want others to know about her illness. Family can call MHMR deputies on you anytime because as you know everyone believes that there is a "majic pill" out there that will make you normal again. Children have to be kept away from you least it rub off on them. Jobs well they treat you like *** and filth because they can abuse you so that you will go away, I got sexually and mentally abused on one job, but hey who is going to believe a crazy criminal over them? I???m legal I was approached by a MHMR doctor with shock treatments on his mind and one told me that "I had to work out here in the real world like normal people did" gee thanks alot doc's for all of that help! So as you can see not only did her family let her down, and now wants to sue, but the system let her down and now some members of her church wants to judge the pastor, where was you members when you noticed how strange she was acting? Did they try to help the pastor out, nope ???its her job not mine just looked the other way??? now so quick to point the finger.You don't have to be an ill

King county Hospital employees have no heart! be it black white or yellow! it doesnt matter what color or race you belong to, to get aid in a hospital!
Even developng countries like India, who do not even have a separate emergency department DO NOT KEEP PATIENTS WAITING! 24 hours Mrs. Green was waiting!! this is ridicilous!!!!!! May her soul rest in peace

ngy... i doubt it made a difference whether she was black or white... to think that hospitals treat one person better than another because of thier race is pretty stereotypical, and maybe you should rethink your perception of racism, as it sounds like maybe you are a bit hateful of whites based on color, making you a racist as well. Racism comed in all colors. Be an example by judging people by the content of thier character, and NOT the color of thier skin. I am a white woman, I went to a mostly black school in a mostly black community. When I was a child, I couldnt understand racism, and did not know anyone who was. I had many black friends growing up. I had no idea that racism was so powerful still in this day and age untill I reached highschool in the city. I was hated because I was white, and some of my friends turned against me b/c of thier new freinds whom would make fun of them for befriending a white girl. Racism comes in all colors. I am not bitter b/c of this, I am saddened by it. Thgere is a stereo type that all white people are racist and do not want to see other racses in positions of power. it is not true. Yes, there are alot of people who feel that way, I am not blind to that., Just though as there are other races who believe that all whites are making any person whom is not white life as hard as they can just b/c of thier race. All people have different opinions, and all poeple are not alike. Being te victim of predjudice did not make me bitter or hateful, I t made me very sad for everyone that the diseased train of thought has touched, and i have made it my goal in life to change peoples minds about such ignorance,

Jean G. Leon, RN, MPA, Senior Vice President, Central Brooklyn Family Network and Executive Director, Kings County Hospital Center

Should be fired

Any excessive payment to an uninvolved family for compensation of this tragedy would only make the services in this hospital poorer and or shut down. Use the money to improve the hospital and kick out the hospital adminstration.

Please join us or send an e-mail to lauren@theopalproject.org to express your support ABRIDGED:

VIGIL TO MOURN THE LOSS OF MS. ESMIN ELIZABETH GREEN AND CONDEMN VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS
WE THE PEOPLE Call for an End of Abuse, Torture, and Neglect in the Wake of Ms. Green's Death While Detained at Kings County Hospital Center's Psychiatric Emergency Room.

All people must be treated with dignity, humanity, and respect. We must not tolerate violations of human rights that individuals who are assigned psychiatric labels often endure.

In 1875, a New York Times article cites abuses of inmates at the Kings County Asylum, spurred by Mr. Nelson Magee, a former inmate. Then-Commissioner Norris reacts to the investigation, "This sort of thing is very common among lunatics; they are always imagining themselves in great danger of being killed by their keepers"v. How many more centuries have to go by before action is taken to end these abuses and neglect?

We must stand united to demand social justice, equal rights, and environments free from torture and detention.

On July 25, 2008, we invite all people to join us and stand united in support of the demand that everyone receive the full benefit of their human rights and the preservation of their liberty, dignity and respect.

Who: All People.

What: Candle Light Vigil to mourn the loss of Ms. Esmin Elizabeth Green and condemn violations of human rights.

Why: WE THE PEOPLE call for an end of abuse, torture, and neglect in the wake of Ms. Green's Death on June 19, 2008, while detained at Kings County Hospital Center's Psychiatric Emergency Room.

Where: Kings County Hospital Center, Psychiatric Emergency Room, Building G. 606 Winthrop Street Brooklyn, NY 11203

Date: July 25, 2008

Time: 5 PM - 10 PM, Candle Light Vigil, 8:30 PM

We welcome your involvement as an organizational co-sponsor or an individual endorser of this effort. If you would like to speak at this event, please contact us.

WE THE PEOPLE

###

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Contact: Lauren J. Tenney
Cell: 516-319-4295
e-mail: lauren@theopalproject.org
website: www.theopalproject.org

Contact: David W. Oaks
Phone: 541-345-9106
e-mail: office@mindfreedom.org
website: www.mindfreedom.org

REFERENCES
[i] Retrieved July 8, 2008 from http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/H/HOSPITAL_WARD_DEATH?SITE=OHRAV&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
[ii] Retrieved July 8, 2008 from http://www.nyclu.org/node/1876)
[iii] Retrieved on July 8, 2008 from http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/01/waiting.room.death/index.html.
[iv] Retrieved July 8, 2008, from http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/03/hospital.woman.death/index.html
[v] Retrieved July 9, 2008 from http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F00E6D8103CE63ABC4851DFBE66838E669FDE