Philadelphia EMS crews responded to a medical device activation last year, but left when no one answered the door even though a neighbor told them the man was inside.
When Robert Santiago's body was found by his son hours later, his hand was still on the medical alert device, abc news reported.
It wasn't the first time this has happened recently in Philadelphia.
In 2023, EMS crews alerted by a device of a person in distress also left after no one answered the door. She also was found dead.
The two incidents have led to separate wrongful death lawsuits filed this month, according to reports.
The Sandiago family alleges in the lawsuit that his death "was caused soley by the negligence and carlessness" by the EMS providers.
Information obtained revealed they started investigating the circumstances after talking with a neigbor, who told them they were at the wrong address and pointed to his door.
A surveillance camera showed the crew knocking lightly before leaving after no one answered.
Attorneys who filed the suit said the family wants the city to take an indepth look into the protocols EMS crews are expected to follow.
"We all pay for these services, and to simply walk away without trying to do any lifesaving procedures, without trying to gain forceful entry, for people who are more than likely incapacitated due to their medical distress, is simply unacceptable," Emeka Igwe, the attorney who filed the lawsuit, said at the press event.
Another suit filed this month had similar circumstances -- an activated alerting device and Philadelphia EMS crews leaving after no one answered the door.
In 2023, the 74-year-old woman's son was notifed by the alert monitoring officials when they never got information about the outcome.
He found his mother dead on the floor.
