Monica Yin's First Responders

You are reading this story because Monica Manchien Yin, a 54-year-old Asian American woman residing in Northwest, is alive to tell it. I met with her this week, after two earlier phone conversations, to hear about her encounters with the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS) in 2002 and again last month. She was motivated to come forward by columns about the experience of the late New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum with FEMS.

Yin provided oral and written accounts of her experiences. Afterward, I spoke separately with Ann Bryant, a lawyer, neighbor and close friend of Yin; with Bryant's husband, Roy Wyscarver, an economist and senior adviser in the federal government; and with Yin's housemate, Tyler Gregg, a software developer. Each was an eyewitness to Yin's encounters, and all read her written accounts. They confirmed their roles as Yin depicted them.

On Thursday I faxed Yin's written accounts to D.C. Fire Chief Adrian Thompson and FEMS spokesman Alan Etter for comment. Here are excerpts from Yin's accounts, which have been confirmed by Bryant and Wyscarver:

Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002

Monica Manchien Yin didn't feel well that morning. She was sick to her stomach, felt dizzy and disoriented. Her 15-year-old daughter, Paoro Yin-Blair, was with her in their home on Riggs Place NW. Together they decided to call Ann Bryant, a neighbor and Monica Yin's friend of 19 years, to help figure out the next step. After hearing Yin complain of headache and nausea, Bryant urged her to go to the hospital emergency room.

Yin at first didn't want to go, thinking she had already caused too much of a fuss. But then she started vomiting and having spasms. She asked to be taken to the hospital, but Bryant urged her to be seen by paramedics, who could decide how she should be transported. Bryant placed a 911 call, and Emergency Medical Services was directed to her home.

Then the nightmare began.

The EMTs (two or three) arrived and were told that Yin had been healthy but had suddenly experienced severe headache and, later, involuntary shaking and vomiting. Yin was lying on the bed shielding her eyes from the brilliant sunshine in the room.

An EMT asked Yin if she had been under a great deal of stress lately ("yes"); was she inebriated, had she consumed alcohol ("no"). He shook Yin and demanded that she explain her problem.

An EMT said he wanted to "do a test." He yelled at her and instructed her to "stand up." When she couldn't, he yanked her off her bed and tried to force her to stand; her body was limp and her feet did not plant on the floor. As she moaned in protest and hung like a sack, he yelled that he was going to "let go." When he did, she crashed to the floor.

His other "tests" consisted of taking Yin to a chair and instructing her to sit down. She didn't move, so he pushed her onto the chair and commanded, "Raise your arm above your head." She didn't, so he held it up, using the sleeve of her clothing, and telling her, "Now I'm gonna let go, you hold it there." He did, and her arm fell limp.

He walked over to Bryant and whispered, "I've run these tests and I think there is nothing wrong with her. . . . She just needs to stay home and rest. . . . I don't think she needs to go to the emergency room, but I'll take her if you want me to." He also whispered to Bryant, "I think she is faking it." At no time did the EMTs take her blood pressure or check her vital signs.