EMS didn't take boy, 2, to hospital after seizure: Lawsuit
Share this @internewscast.com

Background: The Phoenix Fire Dept. in Phoenix, Arizona (KPNX). Inset: Abraham James Clugston (Dignity Memorial).

The family of an Arizona boy who passed away after emergency responders declined to transport him to the hospital following a seizure—informing the child’s mother that she was “overreacting”—will receive a $2 million settlement from the city of Phoenix.

On Wednesday, city officials voted to settle with the family of Abraham Clugston. The child died in April 2022 following his mother’s early-morning 911 call after he suffered a seizure. Despite a fire crew arriving at the residence within 10 minutes, the wrongful-death lawsuit claims the crew dismissed the mother’s pleas to take her son to a hospital.

Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.

“They called out, relying on Phoenix EMS for advice, who said he didn’t need to be taken to the hospital and that he was fine,” attorney Breann Slack shared with local NBC affiliate KPNX. According to the lawsuit, those first responders told the mother she was “overreacting,” insisting seizures were common, and advised giving Abraham over-the-counter medications like Tylenol and ibuprofen.

They reportedly left after 10 minutes.

Five hours later, Abraham was found unresponsive, the lawsuit said, according to KPNX. A second call to 911 was made, and this time Abraham was taken to the hospital — but he did not survive.

The lawsuit says the responders to the first 911 call failed to properly assess Abraham by not taking his vitals and temperature.

“[Firefighters] make mistakes, but as the parent, as in this case, my client, knows their child better than the city of Phoenix and it was, unfortunately, proven that day,” Slack said.

More from Law&Crime: ‘Our son deserved to live’: Family of 10-year-old who died after choking during lunchtime sues Chicago school district for wrongful death

“The City of Phoenix extends its deepest condolences,” a spokesperson said in a statement, according to KPNX. “Following this incident, as with any incident, an internal review was conducted and steps have been taken to improve training and procedures. The City remains dedicated to protecting the health and safety of every member of our community.”

Lawyers for Abraham’s family acknowledged that the settlement “is not going to bring Abraham back, but the family have been very vocal about wanting to pursue some kind of reform.”

“From the very beginning, Abraham’s parents knew that the city of Phoenix did wrong by their son Abraham, whether it was poor decision making that day or it was a flaw in the procedure that needed to be exposed and addressed,” Slack, the family’s attorney, said. “Abraham’s death could have and should have been prevented and while there’s nothing that can be undone, their hopes are that in addition to the laws that have already been changed since Abraham passed away … that Abraham’s Legacy will be to SAVE more lives, moving forward so that any child who has a seizure for the first time in their life won’t be at the mercy of a 911 operator or the general consensus of the first responder team, but rather will be immediately transferred to the emergency room, where they’ll receive the best and most qualified opportunity to live.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Police Report: Granddaughter Allegedly Starts House Fire Following Dispute

Share A tragic incident unfolded in Chesterfield, Virginia, where a young woman…

Experts Suggest Some Stolen Louvre Artifacts May Remain Lost Forever

The Louvre Museum in Paris has announced it will keep its doors…

Gainesville Resident Apprehended After Pursuing 11-Year-Old and Allegedly Threatening with Vehicle

Reported by Staff GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have taken 69-year-old Brian Curtis…

Shocking Discovery: Parents Arrested After Special-Needs Son Found Buried in Backyard

Inset, left to right: December M. Mitchell and Jonathan J. Mitchell (Johnson…

Tragic Rampage: Man Fatally Shoots Three, Crashes into Buc-ee’s, Injuring Bystander

Inset: Christopher Reid Jr. (Henderson County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The Buc-ee’s in…

Queensland Man Accused of Selling $100K in Counterfeit Jewelry

A man from the Gold Coast is facing charges after allegedly profiting…

Judge Orders Retrial or Possible Release for Convicted Etan Patz Murderer

In a significant legal development, a federal judge in New York has…

Chilling Discovery: Son’s Diary Reveals Plan Prior to Parents’ Tragic Deaths

Inset: Erik Metzig in court for his sentencing hearing on Oct. 17…

FBI Intensifies Search for Missing 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard in California; Mother’s Lack of Cooperation Raises Concerns

The FBI has stepped in to assist in the ongoing search for…

Inside the Four-Minute Heist: Unveiling Details of the Louvre Robbery

A daring and swift robbery has left the art world reeling after…

Tragic Shooting: 27-Year-Old Man Targets High School Cheerleader and Three Others

Left: Steven Tyler Whitehead (Jefferson County Sheriff”s Office). Right: Kimber Mills (GoFundMe).…

Homeless Individual Detained for Public Indecency Near Newberry Road Shop

Staff Report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities apprehended 32-year-old Rashard Jerrod Turner yesterday,…