Please don't forget her. Esmin Green is a potent symbol of what can happen when society is too cynical and too absorbed to notice people.
Esmin Green was the Jamaican-born former teacher-turned-New York City-housekeeper who died on the floor of King's County Hospital in Brooklyn. She had been waiting for care for over 24 hours when she fell from her chair and thrashed in distress on the floor for a long while and even tried to get back on her chair. But no-one came to her aid, even though several passed her by and she lay on the floor for an hour before a nurse realised she was dead.
The story provoked outrage and Green's family rightly sued.
Now her family has received some... but still only some belated justice for Ms.Green. Yesterday, New York City accepted full responsibility for her death and have agreed to pay her family US$2 million for her wrongful death.
However, that is not nor should it be the end. This is not a settlement. Ms. Green's family has made that very clear, with their lawyer Sanford Rubenstein saying:
“What remains most important to this family is the criminal culpability for those responsible for what happened and those who attempted to cover it up, which continues, after all this time, to remain under investigation by the New York City Department of Investigation. In no way does this settlement affect that investigation, and the family remains adamant in its demands that anyone who committed a criminal act with regard to the death of Esmin Green or the attempt to cover it up be prosecuted criminally to the full extent of the law.”
We still await true justice for Esmin Green.
News from WE THE PEOPLE
ReplyDeleteFor more information contact: Lauren Tenney, 516-319-4295
Esmin Green Did Not Survive. Survivors of Psychiatry & Allies Demand Report from NYC Dept of Investigations
WE THE PEOPLE to Hold a Demonstration and Vigil in Her Memory, June 19, 2009 at Kings County Hospital Center Psychiatric Emergency Room, Building R. from 5-10 Pm. Justice for Esmin Green. Justice for All
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY (05/29/2009; 1149)(readMedia)-- W E THE PEOPLE is reaching out to friends and family of Esmin Green who was murdered-by-neglect at the Kings County Hospital Center Psychiatric Emergency Room June 19, 2008. They are also looking for survivors of psychiatry, anyone affected by mental health or psychiatric systems, and allies who want to see change and make their voices heard.
Facility staff looked at Esmin face down on the floor - did nothing - and then tried to cover it up. The blatant negligence that was exhibited by facility staff should not be allowed to be brushed under the carpet - or excused for lack of team spirit, which Mr. Aviles, the President of Health and Hospitals Corporation which oversees Kings County Hospital Center, has tried to do. WE THE PEOPLE is demanding criminal charges in this murder-by-neglect and attempted cover-up. This ultimate violation of human rights can not be accepted by our society.
WE THE PEOPLE is demanding that the N! ew York City Department of Investigations release the report of the investigation into the death of Esmin Green and asks why the city is holding back such information?
On June 19, beginning at 5 PM, WE THE PEOPLE will be holding a demonstration calling for human rights in psychiatric systems. A candle light vigil to remember Esmin Green, a woman who should still be alive, will begin at 8 PM.
Sa nford Rubenstein, the attorney for the family is a confirmed speaker at the demonstration. He states,
"It is really important for people to make their voices heard so that what happened to Esmin Green never happens again".
WE THE PEOPLE invite you to stand with them in front of Kings County Hospital Center on June 19, 2009 from 5-10 PM to demand human rights in the psychiatric and mental health systems. Justice for Esmin Green. Justice for all.
Contact: Lauren Tenney (516) 319-4295 Daniel Hazen (301) 395-5378 website: www.TheOpalProject.org/Vigil.html
-30-