After this video was released on the internet, 6 people at Kings County Hospital in New York were fired. The woman in the video, Jamaican immigrant, Esmin Elizabeth Green, died on that floor. At least four staffers, one of them a doctor, observed Green but did nothing.
The State Of . . . You. This article talks about a few other instances of the Bystander Effect. In one, a 78-year old man crossing the street gets hit by a car. The car speeds off and no one stops to help the fallen man. Do you suffer from the Bystander Effect? What is the cause? What is the cure?
Part of me would think I would help, in fact I think I would have helped. Especially the part where she bascially fell down, I cant fathom the idea that I would turn my face away…
I grew up thinking I had to take care of everyone in my family — the kids and the parents. And in some very tangible ways, I did so. So I guess I got used to being the one in charge who doesn’t care too much about looking foolish or having others get mad at me when I’m doing something “for their own good.”
Also … A junkie on the street is different than a hospital patient. I might seek help for the first rather than risk going over, tapping him/her on the shoulder, and being knifed.
I don’t think I would sleep well that night if I didn’t say or do something. But that’s the thing, isn’t it? Ideally, we all say we would help.
It seems to me that it’s easier in a hospital where all you have to do is yell out or grab a nurse and tell her what’s going on. It’s different from seeing a bum on the street passed out. Anyone in a hospital that passes out should be attended to. But, hey, I’m not a doctor.
this happened in a psych waiting room from my understanding; the desensitization and indifference is even higher than normal in these settings b/c patients, unfortunately due to their psychiatric disposition, act out a lot and people ignore them; sad
The situation wasnt as bad as this, but I certainly do not suffer from bystander effect, as I literally had to threaten somenone and act an ass at St. Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California after I took a coworker there who was writhing in pain following what we learned was some type of massive intestinal/stomach infection.
She was crying and screaming and they sat there. After somewhere around 2 hours, I went off. Off to the point where if it hadnt been absolutely necessary, I would have been seriously embarrased.
The final straw was when I learned of an impending “shift change” (read death if you have not yet been seen). I interrupted all that shit, walked all up in their briefing, and told all of ‘em that somebody better get their ass to room whatever now, goddamit. Needless to say they called security and that person was assigned to watch me the rest of my time there. The only reason I didnt get escorted out was b/c the co-worker I was helping piped up. I told them they could call whoever the fuck they needed to call and assign whoever they needed to assign as long one of their doctors had their ass in room whatever right now.
Got the job done, she had to have emergency surgery.
The first time I saw this video and hte one of the man laying in the street after being hit, I was just sad. Sad that humans are capable of the so-called “bystander effect.” That it is actually possible to stand, watch, and do absolutely NOTHING while someone lies injured or dying.
Just last weekend, I was walking to the store with my son and a man was lying down in the bushes. He was actually ON TOP of the bushes. He looked relatively clean, so homelessness was a bit ambiguous. He wasn’t moving and his eyes were closed. I stood there and watched him for a few minutes until he stirred. THen I walked on since it was clear that he was alive.
Actually care very little what strangers think of me.
I can’t say I would have handled this the same way as if it were my sister, but I wouldn’t have let some woman die on the floor without making some serious noise.
I would help. Period. I don’t understand how anyone could do anything else, whether in a hospital or a street corner. If I ever found out my two sons ignored someone who needed help, it’d be the mother of all ass whoopins.
I was walking into a drug store a few months ago and a woman walking out fell down and started having a seizure. Snot was POURING out of her nose and she was struggling to breathe. Wifey and I called 911 and held the lady down until the ambulance came.
In the book “The Tipping Point”, the author mentions the how this bystander effect is determined by how many people are there to witness the event. If someone is in an ally being robbed or raped, a person is LESS likely to help if there are others around witnessing the same thing…resulting in nobody helping…because everyone assumes someone else will do it. If you witness the event by yourself with nobody around, you are more inclined to do something. I thought that was an interesting take….
“… If someone is in an ally being robbed or raped, a person is LESS likely to help if there are others around witnessing the same thing…resulting in nobody helping…because everyone assumes someone else will do it. If you witness the event by yourself with nobody around, you are more inclined to do something. I thought that was an interesting take….”
That is interesting. And I somehow have the idea that it’s always MY responsibility, regardless of how many others are around.
I am also very involved in community service. It amazes me how many people I know who have time, energy and brains choose to do NOTHING like that, no volunteering.
It’s a softer version of walking past the bleeding stranger.
This is one of several reasons I chose to not become a parent. I feel like I’ve already raised a family!
Anyone who’s lived in a REAL city and seen REAL poverty/homeless/chemical dependence knows to quickly put that CAPE up and mind your own business…
Donald Trump gave one $10,000 check away… but there are a thousand helpers in NY each year… It doesn’t pay.
Part of me would think I would help, in fact I think I would have helped. Especially the part where she bascially fell down, I cant fathom the idea that I would turn my face away…
I would help. I have done so in the past.
I grew up thinking I had to take care of everyone in my family — the kids and the parents. And in some very tangible ways, I did so. So I guess I got used to being the one in charge who doesn’t care too much about looking foolish or having others get mad at me when I’m doing something “for their own good.”
Also … A junkie on the street is different than a hospital patient. I might seek help for the first rather than risk going over, tapping him/her on the shoulder, and being knifed.
I don’t think I would sleep well that night if I didn’t say or do something. But that’s the thing, isn’t it? Ideally, we all say we would help.
It seems to me that it’s easier in a hospital where all you have to do is yell out or grab a nurse and tell her what’s going on. It’s different from seeing a bum on the street passed out. Anyone in a hospital that passes out should be attended to. But, hey, I’m not a doctor.
this happened in a psych waiting room from my understanding; the desensitization and indifference is even higher than normal in these settings b/c patients, unfortunately due to their psychiatric disposition, act out a lot and people ignore them; sad
this is our hospital/helping/healing system…..
of course i would help. I would have grabbed the isht out of one of those nurses.
That’s scary to think about concerning our hospital system…
The situation wasnt as bad as this, but I certainly do not suffer from bystander effect, as I literally had to threaten somenone and act an ass at St. Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California after I took a coworker there who was writhing in pain following what we learned was some type of massive intestinal/stomach infection.
She was crying and screaming and they sat there. After somewhere around 2 hours, I went off. Off to the point where if it hadnt been absolutely necessary, I would have been seriously embarrased.
The final straw was when I learned of an impending “shift change” (read death if you have not yet been seen). I interrupted all that shit, walked all up in their briefing, and told all of ‘em that somebody better get their ass to room whatever now, goddamit. Needless to say they called security and that person was assigned to watch me the rest of my time there. The only reason I didnt get escorted out was b/c the co-worker I was helping piped up. I told them they could call whoever the fuck they needed to call and assign whoever they needed to assign as long one of their doctors had their ass in room whatever right now.
Got the job done, she had to have emergency surgery.
I was somewhere around 22 at the time.
RJ:
I can soooo see you doing this.
The first time I saw this video and hte one of the man laying in the street after being hit, I was just sad. Sad that humans are capable of the so-called “bystander effect.” That it is actually possible to stand, watch, and do absolutely NOTHING while someone lies injured or dying.
Just last weekend, I was walking to the store with my son and a man was lying down in the bushes. He was actually ON TOP of the bushes. He looked relatively clean, so homelessness was a bit ambiguous. He wasn’t moving and his eyes were closed. I stood there and watched him for a few minutes until he stirred. THen I walked on since it was clear that he was alive.
Not a victim of the bystander effect.
Actually care very little what strangers think of me.
I can’t say I would have handled this the same way as if it were my sister, but I wouldn’t have let some woman die on the floor without making some serious noise.
I would help. Period. I don’t understand how anyone could do anything else, whether in a hospital or a street corner. If I ever found out my two sons ignored someone who needed help, it’d be the mother of all ass whoopins.
I was walking into a drug store a few months ago and a woman walking out fell down and started having a seizure. Snot was POURING out of her nose and she was struggling to breathe. Wifey and I called 911 and held the lady down until the ambulance came.
This is some Effed up shat. That was terrible neglect on the part of this Hospital.
And good job Justin. I remember a young sister having a grand mal seizure during a Luke concert at Morris Brown during freaknic back in like ‘94.
While helping hold this girl down I remember thinking “do we need a spoon”. (laughing at myself now) At least I helped a little bit.
In the book “The Tipping Point”, the author mentions the how this bystander effect is determined by how many people are there to witness the event. If someone is in an ally being robbed or raped, a person is LESS likely to help if there are others around witnessing the same thing…resulting in nobody helping…because everyone assumes someone else will do it. If you witness the event by yourself with nobody around, you are more inclined to do something. I thought that was an interesting take….
“… If someone is in an ally being robbed or raped, a person is LESS likely to help if there are others around witnessing the same thing…resulting in nobody helping…because everyone assumes someone else will do it. If you witness the event by yourself with nobody around, you are more inclined to do something. I thought that was an interesting take….”
That is interesting. And I somehow have the idea that it’s always MY responsibility, regardless of how many others are around.
I am also very involved in community service. It amazes me how many people I know who have time, energy and brains choose to do NOTHING like that, no volunteering.
It’s a softer version of walking past the bleeding stranger.
This is one of several reasons I chose to not become a parent. I feel like I’ve already raised a family!