NEWARK, N.J. ― An ambulance crew ignored an emergency call to continue live-streaming while on duty.
James Hovan and his partner, working for University Hospital in Newark, were using Periscope from the ambulance on Thursday, reported News 12.
Periscope allows users to live-stream video with a smartphone app. In the video the crew was seen waiting for food at a drive-thru when a call for service comes in over the radio.
“Oh no they didn’t,” Hovan says as he and his partner and continue to wait for their food.
A few moments later, one of their Periscope viewers posts a comment asking why they weren’t responding to the emergency call.
“I ordered my food before the [expletive] call came in,” Hovan said. “What do you think, I just throw it up in the air and run off? No!”
Hovan and his partner then say that they assume the emergency call is a “taxi ride” for a patient who just needs a ride to the hospital
“I’d be willing to bet my paycheck this is a taxi ride,” Hovan is heard saying.
Next, a second call comes in for a woman who is unconscious and struggling to breathe.
The food arrives and the pair takes off to respond to the call. As they drive, Hovan and his partner are heard mocking the condition of the patient.
“I’m struggling to eat my [expletive] mozzarella sticks,” Hovan and his partner are heard saying.
A spokesperson for University Hospital released a statement about the video that says, “University Hospital is deeply concerned about this matter. The individuals involved have been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending an investigation.”
News 12 New Jersey attempted to reach out to Hovan through social media, but did not get a response. By Friday evening, all of Hovan’s social media accounts were deleted.