The family of a varsity football lineman from Chapel Hill High School is suing Orange County, the ambulance medic and the Orange County Emergency Services after their son, Atlas Fraley, died from unknown causes. Their Orange County personal injury lawyer says paramedic James Griffin failed to provide adequate care to the boy, violated protocol and did not attempt to contact his parents before leaving him at home alone.
“Atlas Fraley’s death was a direct and proximate result of the negligence of [Griffin],” the suit stated. “Had [Griffin) properly evaluated, treated and transported Atlas Fraley to a hospital, he more than likely than not would have survived.”
The family is asking for damages to cover medical and funeral expenses, loss of companionship and their son's pain and suffering.
The boy called Emergency Services when he started to feel extreme discomfort and pain. The paramedics arrived and told him to drink fluids and he would be fine. A few hours later, he was found dead in his home.
To read more, see the article in the Herald Sun. Image via NIOSH [Flickr].
Tags: death, emergency services, paramedics, wrongful death