The family of an elderly woman who died in Sunrise, Florida in 2024 has filed suit against the local fire department and medical providers, alleging wrongful death, race discrimination and various civil rights violations. The pro se suit was filed by Calvin Allen, Sr., in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida over the July 4, 2024 death of his mother, Ethel C. Allen.
The defendants include the City of Sunrise, Sunrise Fire Rescue personnel, the fire chief, the Florida Medical Center, and an emergency room physician. According to the complaint, Ethel Allen was 87 years old at the time of her death and had a history of congestive heart failure and an implanted pacemaker-defibrillator. The plaintiff alleges that while vacationing in Sunrise, Ms. Allen became non-responsive at a family’s residence, prompting a 911 call. Sunrise Fire Rescue EMS personnel and Sunrise police officers responded to the scene.
The plaintiff alleges that upon arrival, EMS personnel initiated CPR despite being informed that Ms. Allen had a pacemaker-defibrillator and a low pulse. He contends that the CPR was performed in an unreasonable, aggressive, and reckless manner, contrary to accepted protocols for elderly patients with implanted cardiac devices. The complaint asserts that EMS personnel falsely reported finding no pulse upon arrival and continued manual chest compressions both inside the residence and during transport…