Orlando Fire Department Sued Over Alleged Failure to Treat Teen with Respiratory Distress

A wrongful death and medical malpractice lawsuit has been filed against the City of Orlando Fire Department following the December 2023 death of a 16-year-old boy with autism, Down syndrome, and end-stage renal disease. The lawsuit, filed August 1, 2025, in Orange County Circuit Court, alleges that paramedics dispatched to the scene failed to assess, treat, or transport the teen despite being informed of his life-threatening condition.

The plaintiff, Dr. Enitza Damaris George Brown, a licensed physician and the boy’s mother, brought the suit as the personal representative of her son’s estate. The complaint outlines a series of events that allegedly began on December 23, 2023, when her son, R.M.G., became ill while the family was visiting Orlando for the holidays. After developing vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and an elevated respiratory rate, Dr. Brown sought emergency assistance through the hotel front desk, which placed a 911 call describing the patient as being a guest having trouble breathing.

According to the complaint, Orlando Fire Department personnel responded to the call but declined to evaluate or treat R.M.G. despite Dr. Brown identifying herself as a physician and insisting that her son needed immediate medical attention, including IV fluids and oxygen. Instead, the paramedics allegedly told her she could drive him to the emergency room herself and offered to enter directions into her phone.

According to the complaint, R.M.G. collapsed in the back seat of the rental car en route to the hospital and could not be revived by his younger brother, who attempted life-saving measures.

The lawsuit identifies five OFD personnel as having been involved in the response, but they are not named as defendants. The complaint alleges that none of the crew members took vital signs or performed any patient assessments, despite the dispatch categorizing the incident as a Priority 2 breathing emergency. The incident report filed by OFD allegedly claims that Dr. Brown only requested directions to the hospital and declined additional services—a narrative the plaintiff says is contradicted by the 911 call recording and transcript. Here is language from the narrative of the patient care report (PCR):

• E8/R8 responded to a medical call at the given address for a 25-year-old male. Info given via MCT that the patient was located outside with their mother. On arrival, a female with a male sitting in a wheelchair and another male behind the wheelchair were found. The female advised that she asked the front desk for directions to the nearest hospital because they were not familiar with the area, but the hotel staff could not assist them and shortly after 911 was called. Upon contact, the female advised that she needed directions to the nearest hospital, she was asked if there were any other services and/or help that could be provided, but she responded that she was going to take her son to the nearest hospital herself and did not request any other services from us. The female pulled her vehicle to entrance of the hotel, the female and other male assisted the male in the wheelchair into the vehicle and they left the scene.

The suit alleges multiple breaches of the prevailing standard of care, including failure to assess or monitor the patient, failure to initiate treatment for respiratory distress, failure to document the patient’s condition, and failure to transport or escort him to the hospital.

The plaintiff seeks damages under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and loss of future support, as well as medical and funeral expenses. Here is a copy of the complaint: