"helper" deserves to be fried

[ghostjmf]

in my opinion, of course.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/02/lef ... topstories

Patient should have had some kind of "help me; emergency" call button, presuming that there is some part of his body that works coordinatedly enough to trigger it. Yeah, those things will go off all the time when you don't want them to, if my cell phone is any example, but so what.

And the police should not have taken all night to trace the guy; where, exactly, else did they think he would be?

[silvercamaro]

in my opinion, of course.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/02/lef ... topstories

Patient should have had some kind of "help me; emergency" call button, presuming that there is some part of his body that works coordinatedly enough to trigger it. Yeah, those things will go off all the time when you don't want them to, if my cell phone is any example, but so what.

And the police should not have taken all night to trace the guy; where, exactly, else did they think he would be?

I agree with your opinion. When I first saw the subject line, I thought you mistyped "fired." After reading the story, I have no objection to "fried."

[peacock2121]

She had an appointment!

an appointment!

7 years is all she can get?

7 years!

You gotta be kidding me.

You gotta be.

[Estonut]

I'm not so sure the driver should get off scott-free. If all of the "buses" are just mini-vans as shown in the picture, there is NO excuse for the driver leaving him in the vehicle, either. The driver would have to be unaware of another person being what, eight feet away?

[etaoin22]

She deserves having Sam Waterston prosecute her. That is a story which could be made into a Law and Order episode, for sure.....

And a fictional character somewhat like her will be in deep do-do. But, The jury will not convict.

[etaoin22]

This is a great one to read on news.google.com. The best additional fact is that the police searched in the evening the YELLOW buses in the main lot, but not the WHITE buses, which were in a different lot.

[ghostjmf]

By the way, I "speak from experience" here. Not in having cerebral palsy (though I have known people that have it), but in sleeping in 15-degree F conditions. Voluntarily, in my case. But of course I was in my car, heated up on the interior to "as hot as it can get in there" before I turned the engine off. And I was inside a sleeping bag which is rated to 0-degrees F. But they lie. And I had as an outer blanket my summer sleeping bag, but used as a blanket because I'm too fat to fit into a bag inside a bag, & its rated to 35-degrees F, & they lie even bigger-time than the makers of the winter bag. And I had as an outer-blanket for that a decent down parka.

And because I don't have cerebral palsy, but just a stubborn streak about paying for motels when I don't need a shower, as soon as the car got cold enough I would wake up & either reheat the car via the engine, or if I was awake enough, drive on. And there is generally a nice warm restaurant or at the very least & more importantly, rest-room very nearby.

All this guy had was his coat, & probably, depending on how much movement he has or doesn't have, not a lot of leeway in adjusting it.

This poor guy is very lucky to be alive. If I was still doing this stuff today (these days, I just fly or stay home or spring for the stupid motel) I'd break my remaining teeth from them chattering pulling this stunt. The fleeping "helper", & the bus service, should thank their lucky stars he is alive. All I can imagine from the family's comments is that (a) they are saints &/or (b) if they lose the use of this service, the victim has no way to get to places he needs to get to, so they're afraid of putting through a civil case, because after you win one of those its sometimes years before you collect, & they need the services uninterrupted.

Fortunately, it is the local authorities' decision whether to press criminal charges, not the victim's family's.

[christie1111]

All I can imagine from the family's comments is that (a) they are saints &/or (b) if they lose the use of this service, the victim has no way to get to places he needs to get to, so they're afraid of putting through a civil case, because after you win one of those its sometimes years before you collect, & they need the services uninterrupted.

We are hearing the details here due to it being in our area.

The owner of the company is distraught. He sounds truly upset that this happened in one of his vehicles. Unless he is an extremely accomplished actor, he is believable.

I think this is a case of the person being completely responsible and the company not so much.

[Bob Juch]

I'm not so sure the driver should get off scott-free. If all of the "buses" are just mini-vans as shown in the picture, there is NO excuse for the driver leaving him in the vehicle, either. The driver would have to be unaware of another person being what, eight feet away?

No, he was sitting right behind her!

[Bob Juch]

She deserves having Sam Waterston prosecute her. That is a story which could be made into a Law and Order episode, for sure.....

And a fictional character somewhat like her will be in deep do-do. But, The jury will not convict.

It's being written this weekend.

[Beebs52]

She deserves having Sam Waterston prosecute her. That is a story which could be made into a Law and Order episode, for sure.....

And a fictional character somewhat like her will be in deep do-do. But, The jury will not convict.

It's being written this weekend.

What does that mean?

[Bob Juch]

She deserves having Sam Waterston prosecute her. That is a story which could be made into a Law and Order episode, for sure.....

And a fictional character somewhat like her will be in deep do-do. But, The jury will not convict.

It's being written this weekend.

What does that mean?

The script for L&O.

[peacock2121]

It was the lead story this morning.

Seems they have now fired her and she is in the process of being de-certified by whatever commission allows people to work with the handicapped.

[peacock2121]

Oh - it seems her appointment was for church.

very Christian.

[etaoin22]

I assume she assumed that the next stage up the process -- i.e the driver -- would notice at a 100% level of certainty, would return the gentleman home, and would for whatever reason give her a pass on the issue. Terrible and unethical and all, however I hate to but have to say that similar things happen in health care every single day. Stuff, for example, that the previous nursing shift HAD to have noticed, but pretended not to.



And so, she starts out a perfectly normal day, and winds up 24h later doing the Perp Walk to commence the New Year. A little bit like the starting dilemma in "Bonfire of the Vanities".

Unusual for New York, that it is a Mr. Rivera who needs to be saved, rather than doing the saving.....