The beating death of a veteran New York Times reporter in January has clouded over the D.C. Fire and Rescue Department accused of botching the call.
A District investigation found numerous errors into the department’s response to retired journalist David Rosenbaum and last month his family filed a $20-million lawsuit against city and hospital officials, claiming their negligence contributed to his death.
But D.C. Fire-Rescue spokesman Alan Etter said he has seen more progress this year than any of the previous four that he has been with the department.
“It’s actually been one of the most successful years, but unfortunately one case has overshadowed all the positive accomplishments,” Etter said.
Emergency crews this year set historic bests for response times, shaving 2.5 minutes off the length of time it took eight years ago, down to 5 minutes and 23 seconds. The department reopened two fire stations, doubled the number of paramedic-engine companies and developed a mass casualty support plan.
But an investigation into the Rosenbaum case by the city’s inspector general found a “chain of failures” caused by the widespread problems in the city’s fire and EMS department.
Rosenbaum, 63, was attacked with a heavy plastic pipe Jan. 6 during an evening stroll in his Northwest Washington neighborhood.
Emergency workers initially believed that Rosenbaum was drunk and they did not try to determine whether he was injured, according to the report.
The ambulance bypassed the closest hospital and took Rosenbaum nearly two miles out of the way to Howard University Hospital.
The hospital’s neurological team did not evaluate Rosenbaum until nearly four hours after he arrived, according to the lawsuit filed by Rosenbaum’s children. Rosenbaum died the following day.
