Thanks For Nothing?

By Amanda Dickman in News on Mar 27, 2007 8:10PM

The Chicago Yacht Club has found itself in hot water. For trying to save a woman's life.

The club has been slapped with a lawsuit stemming from an incident last March wherein an employee performed the Heimlich maneuver (unsuccessfully) on Claire Burnett Rice, after she choked on a piece of meat. The manuever did not dislodge the food and 911 was called.

Rice died about a week later due to complications resulting from anoxic encephalopathy, a lack of oxygen to the brain.

Rice's husband, Nick, is alleging that her death lies in the hands of the club because, according to the lawsuit, they, "assumed the duty to perform the Heimlich maneuver with due care." He feels that the employees didn't call 911 soon enough.

While we hope to never find ourselves in a similar situation, a few questions come to mind: What is the right thing to do in that situation? Do you stand by, and for fear that you might get sued, not help someone in distress? Why was it the ultimate responsibility of the club employees to call 911? Because they initiated the Heimlich? Couldn't anyone have picked up a phone and made the call for help?

It's a tough call. If anything, it's unfortunate that, in today's sue-happy society, we find ourselves having to make a choice between saving a life and saving our ass.

Image thanks to Joseph Palmer.