Title: Baby Dies After Police Detain Doctor Rushing to Hospital to Save the Child’s Life Source:
Free Thought Project URL Source:http://thefreethoughtproject.com/ba ... ctor-rushing-save-childs-life/ Published:May 20, 2015 Author:Jay Syrmopoulos Post Date:2015-05-20 13:54:26 by Deckard Keywords:None Views:5514 Comments:26
Pediatrician, Dr. Bhagwan Bang was rushing to the Andalusia Regional Hospital, from his home in Opp, Alabama. He was just made aware of a baby having stopped breathing, when he was pulled over by police en route to the hospital.
Tragically the baby did not survive.
What makes this incident even more senseless was that this was not the first time Dr. Bang had been stopped by police on his way to a medical emergency, as he was pulled over previously, with the judge dismissing the case at that time.
Police had previously given the doctor a specific route to follow whenever there was a medical emergency that required him to get to the hospital fast, which he followed in this incident, which is why Dr. Bang is so distraught over the case.
On Tuesday, Bang said he is distraught over the judges decision, and will appeal to Covington County Circuit Court.
On Sept. 8, I got a call that a newborn baby is not breathing, he said. There was nothing about the pregnancy that indicated problems, he said, but the baby was blue.
I have seven years of neonatal experience, Bang said. I have seen several of these babies.
His fear, he said, was that the baby had a bilateral rupture of the lung.
I have saved those babies before by putting needles in the chest, and draining the air, he said. That was going first in my mind. I needed to be there.
In a short audio clip of a 9-1-1 call provided by Bangs attorney, he can be heard telling the dispatcher, If I stop, the baby will die!
Dr. Bang attempted to explain the situation to the officer that pulled him over, but was detained for over fifteen minutes and threatened with being put in handcuffs, before ultimately allowing the doctor to leave.
Several minutes count, Dr.Bang said. It could mean a whole life to this child, or making them handicap.
Bang is the attending pediatrician with active hospital privileges at Andalusia Regional and in the town of Opp.
The doctor, who was convicted of reckless driving and other violations, in Opp Municipal Court, could lose his license for 6 months. Bang says he will appeal his conviction at the Covington County Circuit Court.
How is it called justice when a doctor, who is attempting to save the life of a dying baby, is stopped by police for traffic infractions and held, even after the doctor explained the delicacy and nuance of the situation?
The potential consequence of him losing his drivers license due to this could be devastating for wellbeing of the children that live in the area. Many residents and supporters are outraged at the way the doctor is being treated.
Supporters have started a petition to send to the Opp Police Department and Judge Ronnie Penn.
Update: 5/20/2015
After an outpouring of support for Dr. Bang, Opp Police Chief, Mike McDonald, said they are dropping the charges.
Dr. Bhagwan Bangs attorney reached an agreement with the city prosecutor that requires the doctor to attend a drivers education course in exchange for the dismissal of the charges, McDonald said in an emailed statement Tuesday. The doctor will also be allowed to keep his drivers license.
Were glad that the city has decided to dismiss the charges and thats going to allow Dr. Bang to return to patient care which is what we wanted to begin with, said Bangs attorney, David Baker
*****
Cop should be charged with murder since by his actions he caused the baby to die.
#14. To: Deckard, GrandIsland, TooConservative, BobCeleste, Hank Rearden, hondo68 (#0)
Tragically the baby did not survive.
Yes, that is tragic. This yellow journalism piece wants you to believe that the doctor did not arrive in time and the baby died immediately because he had been delayed 15 minutes. That is not the case and the author of this article HAD to know this.
Here is the truth:
Bang continued to the hospital, where he helped stabilize the baby. The baby was later transferred to the neonatal unit at Sacred Heart in Pensacola, and died two days later.
FWIW: Bang was not at his "home" in Opp when he responded to the call.
#21. To: Deckard, GrandIsland, TooConservative, BobCeleste, Hank Rearden, hondo68 (#20)
Now, lets see what the local paper in Opp has to say about the good doctor:
Bang to attend driver's ed, city to drop charges May 19, 2015
City of Opp prosecutor Larry Grissett and David Baker, who represents Dr. Bhagwan Bang, worked out a plea deal Tuesday that will allow the doctor to take an drivers education course, and to retain his Alabama drivers license, rather than have to go through a trial in Covington County Circuit Court. According to Opp Police Chief Mike McDonald, it is the hope of the city that will impress on Bang to drive more carefully.
Dr. Bang has a history of prior traffic issues, McDonald said in a prepared statement. According to public records, Dr. Bhagwan Bang has been ticketed multiple times by multiple agencies in approximately the last nine years. Besides the tickets that he was issued with regard to the 2014 incident in Opp.
According to records released, Bang has been ticketed:
In 2006, for driving 83 miles per hour (mph) in a 45 mph zone in Andalusia, and he pled guilty.
In 2006, for driving 90 mph in a 45 mph speed zone on Airport Road, for he pled guilty.
In 2008, he was issued a speeding ticket in Macon County.
Been ticketed multiple times in Florida.
In 2012, for driving 55 mph in a 40 mph zone in Opp.
Prior to the September 2014 incident, Bang was previously allowed to attend driving school in connection with a ticket that he received in Opp, so that the citation would not go on his driving record.
Also, before the 2014 event, Bang was specifically urged by me to drive more responsibly in order to avoid traffic citations and a potential tragedy, McDonald said.
The chief said prior to the September 2014 incident Bang was stopped going through Opp at a high rate of speed.
When he stopped, he stated that he was on his way to an emergency at the local hospital, McDonald said. The officer followed his vehicle and determined that Dr. Bhagwan Bang did not go to the hospital.
Also, McDonald said much has been said about the September 2014 traffic stop, but there are facts that need to be aired.
Concerning the 2014 incident, Dr. Bang was never forced off the roadway by a police officer, McDonald said. Dr. Bang stopped his vehicle in the outside lane of U.S. Hwy. 84 W., and was asked to move the vehicle off the roadway for obvious safety reasons .Dr. Bang was never handcuffed and was never asked to exit his vehicle and he never did exit his vehicle.
McDonald said media reports were wrong concerning the 2014 traffic stop, and the police cruiser dash cam proves they were wrong.
It was reported that Dr. Bang said that he thought the police officer was escorting him so he did not stop, McDonald said. If an escort was being conducted, this would have occurred in front of him, as most people understand escorts. Opp Police Department does not conduct vehicle-to-vehicle escorts, nor does the Andalusia Police Departments or the Alabama State Troopers. This is based upon insurance requirements and liability issues. Concerning the 2014 incident, one media outlet quoted Dr. Bhagwan Bang as stating that he was detained at the scene for about 15 minutes. The actual length of the of time Dr. Bang was detained was four minutes and 20 seconds.
The dash cam video is also being released.
The issue came up earlier this month when Bang refused traffic school when he went before municipal Judge Ronnie Penn. The judge found him guilty, and Bang retained Baker as his lawyer and filed an appeal with the circuit court. Once area media got a hold of the story, Bang was portrayed as the victim of an over zealous police department.
On Tuesday, May 19, Dr. Bangs attorney conferred with the city of Opp prosecutor, McDonald said. An agreement was made and Dr. Bang will attend the drivers education course and after this attendance, all charges will be dismissed. The city has agreed to this in order for Dr. Bang to retain his Alabama drivers license. It is my hope that this information will provide clarity to the 2014 traffic incident with Dr. Bang.