Howard University security officers appear to dump woman in a wheelchair onto sidewalk
WASHINGTON DC May 18 2017 In an exclusive video obtained by 7 ON YOUR SIDE Investigative Reporter Scott Taylor, three Howard University security guards appear to dump a woman in a wheelchair onto a sidewalk and just walk away right outside of Howard University Hospital.
The video shows the woman’s feet almost sticking straight up as the guards move her down the sidewalk. They stop and she tumbles out of the wheelchair. One of the guards tosses a bag onto the ground and then the security guards turn and walk away. The unidentified woman remains motionless on the sidewalk and nobody in the video comes to her aid.
You can hear one bystander say: “What the freak are they doing to this lady? She just slipped off of the cart. What is freaking going on here?”
A security guard walking away from the woman on the sidewalk says, “Leave her there.”
The person who gave the video to Taylor and the 7 ON YOUR SIDE I-Team does not want to be identified but says: “I was actually appalled. I was shocked because I never seen this before.”
Eventually, DC Fire & EMS arrived at the scene, but the woman reportedly refused treatment.
The I-Team gave Howard University Hospital the video days ago and right now an internal investigation is ongoing.
Howard University Hospital CEO Jim Diegel emailed the following statement to the I-Team in relation to the video:
“At Howard University Hospital, our highest purpose is the safety and well-being of every patient.
The video is profoundly disturbing to watch and does not reflect our core values – dignity, compassion and respect for every single person that entrusts us with their care. It depicts procedures that we do not and will never tolerate.
On April 24th, the woman featured in the video was appropriately treated by Howard University Hospital for medical issues and was recommended for discharge. The actions taken after her discharge, however, were a significant departure from the normal process.
Upon receipt of the video, taken by a bystander, HUH took immediate action and launched a thorough investigation. The individuals involved in this incident have been removed from their duties pending the outcome of this investigation.
We have already taken necessary actions to ensure an incident such as this never happens again. Those steps include appropriate training and a review of necessary disciplinary actions.
We take the sacred trust with our patients and our community very seriously. Our commitment is to express our core values in the delivery of care and service to patients we serve every single day.”
The woman has yet to be identified.
On Wednesday, 7 ON YOUR SIDE Investigative Reporter Scott Taylor is sitting down with hospital officials on camera to get more answers.
ABC7
