DETROIT — Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee struggled to explain Wednesday how paramedics mistakenly determined that 20-year-old Timesha Beauchamp had died, when she actually was still alive. He suggested it could have been a case of Lazarus syndrome.
The rare — but hard to scientifically explain — phenomenon has been described in research papers as a delayed return of spontaneous circulation after CPR. The name alludes to the biblical story of Lazarus, who was resurrected by Christ after his death.
“This is a terrible, tragic thing,” Menifee said of Sunday’s incident, which has been making international headlines. “We feel terrible about this. Like I said, the entire city feels terrible about this. Personally, we’re very upset about it.”
Southfield officials have been on the hot seat since Tuesday, when Beauchamp’s lawyer, Geoffrey Fieger, held a news conference and suggested that the mistake was a result of negligence. Fieger is well known for taking cases with settlements and judgments of at least $1 million.
Beauchamp was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant.
When asked why paramedics didn’t rush Beauchamp directly to the hospital, Menifee said that’s “under investigation.” And when asked if that’s what paramedics should have done, Menifee said “no,” adding that they followed the medical procedures.
“While ultimately, what transpired here with Ms. Beauchamp is unique and unsettling, we know that there is evidence out there that something like this has happened before,” Menifee told news crews at City Hall. “We’re still investigating to determine what happened on that Sunday.”
Over and over again, the chief responded to reporters trying to get answers by saying the situation was under investigation, eventually ending his own news conference by walking out of the room as a reporter shouted a question at him.
Menifee confirmed the two paramedics and two EMTs at the scene — all of whom are now on paid leave — checked Beauchamp three times within an hour and, each time, determined she had no life signs.
The chief also noted at least two of the firefighters had experience, as 18-year and seven-year veterans.
He acknowledged and apologized for not contacting the family directly, saying he felt “terribly bad personally and professionally” that he didn’t. But, he felt they “wanted and deserved answers” and did not have them to offer.
But, the chief said he absolutely did not share concerns raised by Fieger, that negligence or discrimination may have led to a misdiagnosis, and blasted Fieger for making what he called “grossly inaccurate statements.”
Menifee said Fieger’s claim that paramedics or police placed the young woman in a body bag was completely inaccurate. Firefighters, he said, do not even carry body bags, and the paramedics left the body in care of the family.
“The men and women of this Fire Department are very professional,” the chief said. “They go out every day and deliver the best service possible to the citizens of this city. I’ve never had an issue with any firefighter and diversity issues with a patient.”
Menifee also took issue with Fieger’s insinuation that paramedics might not have contacted a physician or the Oakland County medical examiner. They did, the chief said, adding that it was in line with proper procedure.
Still, for the most part, Menifee’s and Fieger’s timelines mostly matched up.
At 7:27 a.m., Menifee said, the Fire Department responded to a 911 call that a woman was not breathing. Paramedics, he said, offered help. They arrived at 7:34 a.m. and a minute later started performing life-saving procedures for about 30 minutes to try to save her, checking her vital signs three times.
Southfield police, Menifee said, also arrived at 8:07 a.m. Two minutes later, the Fire Department reported their findings to a physician, who determined Beauchamp had died based on the information paramedics relayed.
But then, Menifee said, between 8:09 a.m. and 8:38 a.m., a family member told fire officials Beauchamp appeared to be breathing and reassessed her. They ended up with the same result and conclusion: no life signs.
When paramedics went to their vehicle, Menifee said, a family member told a police officer Beauchamp had a heartbeat. They evaluated Beauchamp a third time, and, the chief said, they still detected no life signs.
At about 11:30 a.m., the James H. Cole Funeral Home picked up the body.
But by Fieger’s account, when the Detroit funeral home checked on Beauchamp her eyes were open — and she was breathing. From the funeral home, she was taken to Sinai-Grace Hospital, where she has been on a respirator.
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