Woman dies while being kicked out of hospital

Sean Rossman and Karl Etters | Tallahassee Democrat

Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this report misstated Barbara Dawson's hometown.

BLOUNTSTOWN, Fla. — A woman who sought treatment at a hospital here died Monday night after police arrested and forcibly removed her.

The Tallahassee law firm of Parks and Crump is representing the family of Barbara Dawson, 56, of Bristol, Fla. The Tallahassee NAACP chapter had an emergency meeting on the matter Tuesday.

After being taken to Liberty Calhoun Hospital here for treatment for breathing problems, Dawson was stable and needed to be released, doctors said Monday. But Dawson thought that she needed to stay for additional care.

When she refused to leave, hospital staff called the Blountstown Police Department, Chief Mark Mallory said. Blountstown is about 50 miles west of Tallahassee.

Officers placed her under arrest on charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing, handcuffed her and escorted her out of the hospital. Dawson collapsed while walking to the officer’s car, he said.

She was brought back inside where emergency medical staff attempted to save her, hospital officials said.

"They did their best trying to save her,” said Ruth Attaway, the 25-bed hospital's administrator and chief executive. “Our staff was very aggressive with her treatment. They did everything they could.”

Darryl Parks said his firm intends to sue either the hospital or the police department for their involvement in Dawson’s death.

Parks said he was very concerned about the conduct of both sets of officials. He contended that once law enforcement got involved, medical personnel and officers did not take proper precautions given Dawson’s medical situation.

Parks claims that Dawson required ongoing medical attention. Her family said she had a longstanding history of breathing problems.

“Even the early facts should cause grave concern for her family but also grave concern for the public,” he said.

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