Woman dies after power company shuts off oxygen machine

[Anonymous]

An Auckland mother of four died yesterday when her electrically-operated oxygen machine was cut off because of an unpaid power bill.Now the family of the woman, in her mid-40s, is demanding a full investigation into the tragic...

More... (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

[Kirsty]

The people must have known the power was way overdue, and surely could have been able to ring the power company in the 3 months they had in order to sort it. Specially when they knew the mother was coming home and would need the power. Either that, or the mother shouldn't have come home if they couldn't care for her properly.

I see this as an unfortunately incident, but don't actually think the power company was at fault here.

[AnJul]

Ooh that's awful. And yeah like Kirsty said, it's not the power company's responsibility. If the family was so concerned they should have helped out by paying the overdue bill before it got to this situation.

I feel sorry for the woman who died, and her children. This kind of thing shouldn't happen in NZ.

[Anonymous]

Counties Manukau District Health Board suggests the south Auckland woman who died after Mercury Energy cut off her power should have had time to call an ambulance.Counties Manukau Chief Medical Officer Don Mackie says 44-year-old...

More... (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

[Hobbit]

1. The DHB has said she wouldn't have been sent home if she needed the support of the equipment 24/7 in order to survive.
2. If she *was* dependent on the equipment for survival, then (a) she probably shouldn't have been at home in the first place, and (b) should have had back-up systems in place.

Disconnection isn't the only way your electricity supply can be lost. What if there had been a straight-forward power cut?

I don't see that the power company should be held responsible. The family should have called an ambulance sooner, and surely there was also the option of popping over to a friend's or neighbour's place to tide them over while they sorted out the power thing?

I feel sorry for them, but suspect that right now they're feeling bad about what happened and seeking someone else to pin the blame on. I don't think the power company could be expected to know that they were putting someone's life at risk through disconnecting the electricity.

[Danni]

It's very sad what happened. I don't think we have the full story - the media aren't known for their accuracy. Hard to make a call but there are several holes (as Hobbit outlined).

[AnJul]

It interests me that all the family has been on tv making such a big fuss - somebody should have paid the power bill, to me it's that simple. The power company says the family had plenty of warning. Grrr it annoys me for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Prime Minister Helen Clark has called for Mercury Energy to "'fess up" and stop making excuses as the fallout continues over the death of Folole Muliaga, who died soon after the power was disconnected to her home.Yesterday, Helen...

More... (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

[Kirsty]

I am disgusted that the PM has said that when they haven't found out what actually happened yet. Guess who's just trying to get votes...

[Tastic]

Im sorry but why the hell didn't they pay the power bill?!? I mean if it was paid or even an attempt to pay it, it wouldn't of been cut off!
come on who cant afford $5.00 pw, If they had rung the power company and explained the situation Im sure that would of been fine!
Except they just kept ignoring the letters!
as for Helen Clarke well she doesn't have my vote this time

[Mandy]

i feel for the lady but as far as im concerned her family is obviusly the blame the need to be punished for it knowing she need the power!