Power Cut to Woman on Electric Oxygen Pump (she died)

[The Straight Story]

05/30/2007 05:09 PM ID: 62766
Power Cut to Woman on Electric Oxygen Pump


44-year-old New Zealand woman Folole Muliaga, who needed an electric oxygen pump to live, died after falling behind on a $122 power bill. The woman was a school teacher who had been off work since February due to illness.

Relatives told technicians from state owned Mercury Energy that she needed an electric oxygen pump. Despite an invitation to see the electric pump, the technician turned off their power. Within two hours of power being cut, Muliaga died.

Mercury Energy is investigating the claim that the family warned them she required a oxygen pump. The company said multiple notices were sent out warning she will lose her power.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=62766

[shadowknows69]

1. Holy shit man take a break. I canna keep up with ye this evenin.

B-)

[karlrschneider]

2. What is an electric oxygen pump?

I never heard of such a thing.

[supernova]

4. Seriously?

It's a pump you can use when you need oxygen, such as for CHF or respiratory ailments like emphysema. You run a plastic hose from the machine to your nose to supply continuous oxygen.

The article doesn't say, but I bet it was an oxygen concentrator. Easier than replacing oxygen tanks when they get empty.

There are two types,

More portable units you can take with you.

Stationary ones that you leave set up in the home and you have a short tether. :P (WHich is why most prefer the portable kind)

[karlrschneider]

6. Okay, I was only familiar with tanks...like we use in the airplane.

Never heard of the other thing.

[supernova]

7. No reason to

if you've never had to use it or known anyone who did.

I sure feel awful for that woman and her family. Some of the comments under that story are positively hateful. :scared:

[BlueJazz]

9. I went over there to read the comments (After you pointed out they were Hateful)

Geez...I might add: Hateful and Disgusting....and cold-hearted.

[bluestateguy]

3. The technician should be charged with murder

nt

[supernova]

5. That utility is gonna lose their shirts

Most places have agreements that medical equipment cannot be turned off, even if the account is in arrears.

[Historic NY]

8. WTF even thats illegal here must be right wings asshats there.....

[edbermac]

10. $122 bucks?? Wow, not paying that could bankrupt the company.

:sarcasm:

[Gold Metal Flake]

11. It's not the money, it's the principle.

:sarcasm:

[KamaAina]

13. And I assume that's NZ$122

the handy-dandy currency converter at Yahoo! Finance reveals that Ms. Muliaga's life was worth a paltry $95.67 U.S.

Weak U.S. dollar alert! A couple of years ago, the exchange rate was about NZ$1 = 44 cents US. Now it's about 78 cents. Heckuvajob, Bushco! :sarcasm:

edit: spelling

[ManiacJoe]

12. Sounds like the family is mostly to blame, based on the lack of data.

Multiple notices go by, and the bill is not paid by the family. Multiple notices to by, and apparently the family did not notify the power company about the medical equipment. (Telling the technician does not count). The sad ending to this story was foreseeable from a LONG way out....

[Raejeanowl]

14. You're Probably Right

The way our local utility works, you're supposed to basically register with them in the first place if you have life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity. Then, if you get into arrears and the notices go out, you do have to come forward, negotiate, and adhere to a payment plan in good faith while they keep the power on for you.

Leaving it until the guy is there to flip the switch is far too late and frankly, they don't want to hear it (and it's not their job to verify it).

[Swamp Rat]

15. Murder n/t

[dysfunctional press]

16. what did the woman normally do in the case of a power outage?

they do happen, after all- just ask the okies.

you would think that someone who relied on the device to live, might want to have a tank or two on hand to use as a back-up.