Involuntary manslaughter charges have been placed against a Pennsylvania 9-1-1 dispatcher who didn't send an ambulance for a woman, who died the following day.
Despite pleas from the woman's daughter, Leon "Lee" Price, 50, wouldn't dispatch the ambulance without some assurance that she would agree to be transported, according to CBS News.
Court documents revealed the victim's daughter begged the Greene County dispatcher to send an ambulance, saying without medical intervention "she's going to die."
Kelly Titchenell called 9-1-1 as she was driving to her mother's residence located in a rural area of the county.
Price eventually said he would send an ambulance but then added that "we really need to make sure she's willing to go," according to news reports.
He told her to call back once she arrived, and determined if she would be willing to go. No ambulance was ever dispatched. The woman died the following day of internal bleeding.
Greene County District Attorney Dave Russo told the media he is also investigating whether there was any policy or training under which the county's 9-1-1 dispatchers were allowed to refuse services to callers.
"We all deserve equal protections, and we all deserve access to medical services," Russo said in an interview. "I have a major concern as to the safety of the community in regards to this."
Price also was charged with reckless endangerment, official oppression and obstruction in connection with the 2020 incident.
"I believe she would be alive today if they would have sent an ambulance," Titchenell told reporters.
