A Phoenix man says the city’s fire department violated state law when firefighter-paramedics did not promptly take him to a hospital during a heart attack last September.
Robert Martino, 67, filed a complaint with the Arizona Department of Health Services which regulates ambulance services and licenses paramedics and emergency medical technicians.
Martino’s significant other called 911 twice on the same night in September 2023. The first time, a fire truck and ambulance were dispatched for a heart trouble call. Martino was only taken to a hospital after the second call, which happened five hours after the first one.
“My heart went without oxygen for five hours,” Martino told ABC15. “How many years is my life shortened?”
Medical records show Martino started having chest pains on the morning of September 2. His significant other, Carrie Gale, called 911 around 9:40 p.m. that night after she said Martino collapsed in the bathroom. Martino said he was unable to get up, convulsing, and barely speaking. He has a history of heart attacks and takes more than 20 medications.