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First aid ends in dramaTV producer is paralyzed because paramedics pressed the wrong button
Meg Fozzard suffered brain damage because of a mistake by emergency workers.
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EVERYTHING has changed for Meg Fozzard.
The Englishwoman suddenly collapses in her home and suffers a heart attack. In a panic, her partner alerts the emergency services, who arrive a short time later. But instead of saving the young woman, the paramedics make the situation worse – with lasting and dramatic consequences for the patient.
Wrong treatment changed Meg's life
The United Kingdom's National Health Service is now compensating the TV producer with an undisclosed sum of money, admitting the mistake that turned Meg's life upside down forever. After the incident, she struggles with brain damage, suffers from speech problems and constant exhaustion and is dependent on a wheelchair, as the British Mirror writes.
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All of these are the consequences of a cardiac arrest that the then 26-year-old suffered in April 2019. With shortness of breath and a seizure, she is struggling with death when her frightened partner calls 911. But after the rescue workers arrive, they don't recognize a cardiac arrest – even though the emergency call center had just pointed this out to them shortly before!
Paramedics press wrong button
According to British media, paramedics are connecting the wrong equipment, using monitoring lines instead of defibrillation pads, and are not being told that an immediate electric shock is urgently needed. But that's not enough.
The emergency services also press an incorrect button on the device, which delays emergency mode by another four minutes. In total, it took eight minutes longer for Meg to receive the electric shock to her heart.
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Meg Fozzard remembers time in the hospital
“It's almost impossible to find words to describe the physical and emotional impact it took to cope,” says Meg. “At first I had no idea, but as the extent of my brain injury became more apparent, reality slowly began to sink in. The moment in the hospital when I realized my life would never be the same again was difficult. I really struggled with that.”
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The TV producer was unable to work for 14 months.
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The TV producer has been unable to work for 14 months, but has now returned to her job part-time and is focusing on disability rights. After compensation, she can afford the support of a speech therapist, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist. Meg is now able to stand independently for up to an hour. Their cognitive abilities also improve – but the pain of the avoidable stroke of fate will probably remain forever.
Sources used: Mirror, New York Post
