Toddler crushed at Minn. chiropractor's office

[Liberal_in_LA]

Toddler crushed at Minn. chiropractor's office

Authorities say a toddler has been crushed to death at a Minnesota chiropractor's office while his mother was strapped to a table and screamed for help.

The mother and 18-month-old were at First Chiropractic in the St. Paul suburb of Shoreview Thursday afternoon. Ramsey County sheriff's spokesman Randy Gustafson says the staff had left them unattended when the boy crawled under the therapy table to which his mother was strapped.

The boy then accidentally pushed a button that brought the electric table down on him.

Amy Elizabeth Newton, of Moundsview, screamed to summon help. Clinic employees rushed to the room, raised the table and began CPR on the boy, but he died of head trauma.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/10/national/a144901D46.DTL#ixzz1OufZAoVf

[slackmaster]

1. Mother was strapped to the table in a manner that prevented her from getting up?!?!?

That's horrible.

[phantom power]

2. Oh god.

[Brickbat]

3. Strapped to the table? WTF? What a complete and utter nightmare. I hope that mother owns the

clinic when this all over.

[Brickbat]

5. Here's an image of the chair that was used; it didn't make sense to me until I saw it.

I suppose if I were panicking, or in a lot of pain, or lying on my stomach, it might take me longer than expected to get out of it.

ETA: Now that I think of it, I've been on a similar table in a physical therapy session, not chiro. It looks similar to the table I was in when they put my back in traction -- lying on my back, strapped in, with that middle section taken out. And when I was in traction, it was very difficult to move. And the PT left me while I was in traction, as well.

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. holy shit. That would crush an adult

[Dappleganger]

18. Exactly, you can't get out without additional help.

Last summer traction was a part of my PT and I hated it for this very reason (panic attacks, ugh).

[Brickbat]

20. I didn't mind being strapped in, but traction was scary.

It helped me a lot, but it's a bizarre feeling when your spine starts to separate from itself.

[tammywammy]

22. I loved traction

I found it relaxing almost and I always felt better after getting off the table.

Also whenever I've been in traction the PT left me alone as well.

[Brickbat]

24. I can see how it would feel good if my back hadn't been so painful at the time, but all I could

think of while I was going through it was that scene in "1984" where Winston is being tortured and he imagines his spine breaking.

[tammywammy]

29. The first time I had it I was a bit nervous

They kept referring to it as "The Rack." After the first time I was much more comfortable with it.

[Raine]

21. I've been on those tables too and I also have panic attacks

my chiropractor showed me how to get up (like say if there was an earthquake). I felt better knowing how to remove the straps, they were velcro.

[Enrique]

6. nightmare indeed

:-(

[Warrior Dash]

52. It's terrible...but accidents happen.

I wonder how many people died in car accidents yesterday?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. Christ. Sounds like a scene out of The Abominable Dr. Phibes

[Shagbark Hickory]

37. Dr. Giggles came to my mind. But what a tragedy.

[TransitJohn]

8. Woman should go to jail.

I know I'll probably get flamed mercilessly for this, but she left her child unattended, and as a result the child died.

[Kceres]

10. Mother has already paid the ultimate price. Freak accident. nt

[TransitJohn]

11. I think she should've provided adequate care to protect the child while she underwent

medical treatment. I know I do with my child. There would've been no freak accident had she exercised her required parental duties. Just my own opinion, don't expect everyone to agree.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[enough]

13. In this case it's the chiropractor who is responsible. He or she should have known

that it was unsafe to leave the toddler in the room with the equipment. The mother "should" have thought of it, but she probably was unaware that the equipment was that precarious.

[cali]

23. no she didn't. this is entirely the fault of the staff at the office

she had a reasonable expectation of professional care.

[Drahthaardogs]

28. Professional care = baby sitter?

She should have left the toddler at home. It is not the responsibility of the staff to provide day care facilities for her child while she receives treatment. It is tragic, but I think this is momma's fault.

[cali]

31. they had a responsibility to tell the mother that it wasn't appropriate for her

to bring her son to her appointment, if that was the case. It's that basic and that simple.
and I guarantee that's how the law will view it.

[Drahthaardogs]

33. Maybe they did tell her and she ignored them and did it what she felt like

were you there or something?

[cali]

40. they should have told her that they can't treat her with her child there

and canceled the appointment. it's their responsibility. Do you really think she strapped herself to that contraption? do try using critical thinking skills, my friend.

[Drahthaardogs]

54. It's velcro

not leather strapped with buckles and clasps. My critical thinking skills are just fine, and I am going to criticize the mother. You know why? Because when it all boils down to it, it's HER child and ultimately it is up to HER to keep her baby safe, not a bunch of overworked underpaid clerical people running around a physician's office. It is called being a parent. Hell, I would not even bring mine along on a trip to the clinic if I needed a simple blood draw because I did not want to expose my kids to bunch of sick people. She was at fault for bringing that baby to the appointment in the first place. I do agree with you that the office staff should have refused to treat her with the child unattended, but the mom still bears the brunt of this in my eyes.

[cali]

56. that's not how it works legally.

and I don't see how you'd get out of being velcro strapped.

[Drahthaardogs]

57. If you cannot get out of a velcro strap

You might want to consider a weight training program.

As for legally, I am sure we will see. Do you have precedence that makes this a slam dunk?

and on edit: She also had a two year old and a four year old in the room at the same time. I think Social Services should be notified. Who leaves three babies unattended like that? This is child abuse.

[Pisces]

26. That is a ridiculous. She was probably there in order to care for her child.

[nadine_mn]

48. she can afford a visit to the chiro but not a babysitter?

unless she has incredible health insurance, often times chiro visits aren't covered

[alphafemale]

47. I don't think she should go to jail. But it is her fault. Not the staff of that facility.

No one is responsible for your child if you put them into a dangerous situation.

The staff of a business is not an automatic legal guardian responsible for your child's safety just because your parenting skills suck.

[RamboLiberal]

9. Wow - tragic accident

No one's fault IMHO. Probably no one thought of that scenario. There's just some places kids don't belong. No wonder my PT bans kids in the PT area.

[sendero]

53. I agree..

... every accident that happens has to be someone's "fault". From this story I see no particular negligence on anyone's part, merely a tragic accident.

[madfloridian]

14. "the staff had left them unattended" Not the "staff's" job.

[Brickbat]

15. No, but it is the staff's job to say "We cannot treat you with kids in the room."

[blueamy66]

27. Yes. I agree.

I cannot understand this at all. The lady is strapped down and the toddler is just hanging out?

It certainly is tragic though.

[cali]

25. wrong. it most certainly is the staff's job. period.

[madfloridian]

32. No office I have been in babysits kids of patients.

[cali]

35. it's the staff's job to tell the mom that it's not appropriate to bring a child to

her appointment- if that is the case. And if they didn't do that, they are responsible.

[JI7]

41. they can hold off on starting treatment until the parent finds someone else

to take care of the kid.

[laundry_queen]

38. Bullshit

The 'staff' shouldn't have even left the mother unattended, child there or not, if she was strapped in in such a way she was unable to get out. What if there was a fire or something?!? Geezus. I've been to many chiros with my children and all the chiros had no problem with it, but perhaps that's because I've also never seen a barbaric contraption such as that one in any chiro's office.

[spanone]

16. good God.

[Raine]

17. The kid should never have been in the room

that's why there are doors between the waiting room and treatment rooms.

[vanlassie]

42. Blame the victims.

Hmm- could the mother have been in miserable pain- no one to help her and needing relief that the chiro promised? Naw- that never happens to mothers of toddlers. Anyway- tough shit- she's on her own!

[Raine]

44. Uh seriously WHERE did I blame the victim(?) I'm puzzled

as to where you got that. I said that's what the door is for and someone anyone uh possibly the staff should've made sure the door that leads from the waiting room to the treatment rooms was closed. I've been in offices where the door is not only closed but locked to keep out unauthorized persons. Now tell me where I blamed the poor mother?

[Bluebear]

46. how did he "blame the victim"?

[KittyWampus]

19. If this wakes up other health care practitioners to potential dangers the child will not have died

in vain. The only way I can read this and not be totally engulfed in sorrow.

[tammywammy]

30. I'm surprised they allowed an unsupervised child in there

I know the last place I had physical therapy at clearly had a sign that unattended children were not welcome.

This is an awful accident. The clinic shouldn't have proceeded with anything when she had her child with her, and she should not have proceeded with the procedure either. Awful freak accident.

[TorchTheWitch]

49. my chiropractor has such a sign as well

Very irresponsible of the parent and the clinic.

[mrs_p]

34. as a new first time mum

this really freaks me out. there are just so many ways little ones can get hurt. i have to stop myself from reading these stories.

[Shagbark Hickory]

36. nah, forget it.

[Yooperman]

39. After reading several "who was at fault" posts....

I say all were at fault...the staff for allowing a child in the room in the first place knowing the mother was immobilized... the mother for allowing herself to be immobilized with a toddler in her care...and the manufacturer of the table for not installing a simple device that would stop the table from closing should it encounter any resistance.

YM

[KittyWampus]

43. Interesting! I know garage doors now need such a device.

[renate]

45. it's terribly, terribly, terribly sad

But it's not as though the clinic initiated the lowering of the table. I think the mother should have said "No, don't restrain me, I need to be able to get to my child if he starts opening drawers/playing with your equipment/doing things he shouldn't do, because it's my responsibility to watch him, not yours."

I feel just awful about this but when people show up at doctor's appointments with their kids--and I realize they do have to sometimes--they are still responsible for watching the kid. Not the clinic. Unless the clinic specifically said "Oh, feel perfectly free to bring your child and let them roam around while you are unable to monitor their behavior."

[nadine_mn]

50. Actually she had 3 kids with her - staff should have refused to treat her

I think mom should have had child care arrangements or canceled the appt, but once she arrived with 3 kids in tow the staff should have refused to treat her



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43358178/ns/local_news-minneapolis_st_paul_mn/


Edited to add - apparently this was common practice for her to get treatment with her 3 kids (all under the age of 4) present. This was a tragedy waiting to happen IMO

[Taitertots]

51. Clinic should have refused service to her or provided child care

The Mother shouldn't have tried to bring her children along and force the Chiropractic office into giving her free day care while she was treated.

[Zax2me]

55. OMG

What a terrible story!
Can't bear to click on it. Guess I'll be the head in sand on this one.

[ecstatic]

58. both the office and the mom are at fault :(

I hate to read stories like this. They make me so sad. I know that mom must be simply heartbroken to lose her baby in such a tragic manner. Both the office and the mom are at fault. The office for not saying: No children allowed (or if they do allow children, have someone watching them at all times); and the mom for not changing course once she realized nobody would be watching her 3 kids.

I understand how expensive day cares are, but there simply had to be another way. Sadly, if you can't afford a babysitter or don't have a friend or family member who you can trust to watch your kids, you have to put off treatment.

People need to understand that their kids should not be left roaming stores or ANYWHERE unattended. There are some very bad people out there, and even if we take the lurking pedophiles out of the equation, it's still extremely dangerous--the child could be injured by falling boxes, etc. Also, don't leave small children alone with dogs!