Oxygen tank powered by electricity? I’ve seen lots of them and none of them were electric powered.
I detect a ghetto lottery scheme.
I agree. Poor planning by the family.
Good grief, go to the neighbors, use an extension cord
Why did the family not pay? Why did the family not move her to one of their places?
” for hours after”
Never heard of an ambulance? 911? Something missing here.
“She was just starting to turn her life around...”
I’m bad. I shouldn’t think this.
But I wonder if the family withheld Grandma’s condition knowing that if PG&E cut off the power, and she died - they would win the lawsuit lottery.
I mean, what other reason could their be for this info to be undisclosed?
Allegedly?
Notice she wasn’t an “alleged” Grandma? It wasn’t that the company “allegedly” cut of the phone bill. No, it’s only “allegedly” that she didn’t pay her bill...
Well, I can vouch for two Texas Companies that won't cut off electricity to medical needs customers for failure to pay.
Almost certainly there would be a back up tank if the lights went out and an Oxygen Concentrator was not functioning.
This is a stupid scam.
OK, this stinks. First of all, I never heard of any oxygen equipment that needs power, but I’m no expert, so we’ll assume that’s legit. If the equipment is portable and the power isn’t back on in 30 minutes, haul her azz to McDonalds or somewhere and plug it in. If not, get her in an ambulance, urgent care, hospital, etc. etc, etc. There’s only about 54 places in your town that have oxygen and electricity. Nice job. Granny’s in heaven now, slapping her forehead over having such stupid progeny (come to think of it, if she’s coherent, why didn’t SHE call 911?)
Did anyone think to dial 911?
The paramedics carry oxygen.
Did anyone think to call the local medical supply house. They could have delivered oxygen to the home.
Did anyone think of putting her in a car and driving her to the ER?
Loss of power created a crisis but there were several options available so she should not have died for lack of O2
Families can also choose to be notified if a member falls in arrears.
She was in hospice care. I would surmise she died from whatever reason she was in hospice care. As someone else mentioned if the power company is informed of vital medical need they will not shut off the power. Also I believe having her transferred to a hospital was an option.
“I know for a fact that if the power company knows that you have a medical need for electricity (doctor’s notification required) that they will not cut the power off. If this poor lady had any kid of family they would have paid her bills. “
This was definitely true in Chicago. Ironically, it made old, sick people in poor areas valuable, respected members of the family, paying some freight with “free electricity”!
To be cold about this, she was in hospice which means awaiting death. It came just sooner than later. My own Mother had one of these machines, and 2 reserve tanks full, plus a portable that worked on 12v DC from a car. I am fairly sure that Medicare pays for this. If not, why not?
Hospice care and oxygen...in hindsight they could have told the utility of the special situation when they got the first shutoff notice, their service would not have been disconnected.
Move her somewhere else while a family member or friend waits for the utility? Sit in the car with the a/c on?
“Her family said they were with Daniels pleading with PSE&G to turn on the electricity...”
Maybe her family should have taken her somewhere that did have electricity in the meantime while they were doing the pleading?