What would you do? Legal minds encouraged to chime in.

Unreconstructed Lib

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Mon Jul-23-07 12:35 PM
Original message

What would you do? Legal minds encouraged to chime in.

Disclaimer: I'm not seeking advice here, in lieu of professional legal services. I'm just hoping to tap some DU smarts.

I have a friend who has recently developed some breathing problems and has been put on oxygen. The oxygen tanks are brought to her home. The following is her report of an encounter she had with the oxygen delivery man, during what I assume was the first delivery of tanks. I have edited her account only to remove identifying information and to correct typos and punctuation errors:

First, he came in and made negative remarks about the "Proud to be a Democrat" bumper sticker on my truck. Stating, "Here is how you make a Democrat," he took the oxygen hose and pinched it, laughing (it wasn't hooked up to me yet). Then, he said, "I hope you're not one of those Rosie O'Donnell lovers who thinks that Bush had something to do with 9/11."

Then, he stated, "Well, I don't care if they kill off all the Muslims and I get pissed off about the all of the illegals coming in our country. I don't think they should be letting all the Mexicans in America. There are bunches of them using up our medical services, and they live in the rich area of town, in good houses. I know. I see them every day. They are spending 6 million dollars a day on them in hospitals across the country. I know because I deliver oxygen to them." He pointed to the state-sponsored health care paperwork he brought and said, "All these people are getting all this free."

He then asked who my doctor was. When I told him, he said, "Oh, him. It figures. He's another one they let come over from India and do way too much for the patients. He prescribes oxygen way too much. He gives it to people just to make them feel better or just to make it look like he is doing a lot of work and look like he actually cares. And they don't need it."

He also was not willing to give me more than ten tanks of oxygen even after I told him I am active and may use up to two a day when I'm out and about. (I later learned that a person can have as much oxygen as they require, that it isn't limited, and the contract doesn't charge more for more cylinders.)

He then stated, "I was in the military for 30 years and I think it's treason for people to put down the president in war time." He also said he had written a letter to the editor about his thoughts on all of this and told me he was going to bring it for me to read next time.

Her girlfriend was there when all of the above took place, so she has a witness. Also, she did call the delivery company and report this guy.

This whole thing has caused her some significant distress. She has asked that he not be sent back to her home but she doesn't know if her request will be honored. Additionally, she has told me that she's now afraid of what this guy might do to her and her girlfriend, if he is disciplined by the company. All she wanted was her oxygen and to be treated with dignity. Now, she's fearful, and she feels that she has been violated in her own home.

DU has so many smart and compassionate members that I told her I would throw it out here and see what you all think.

Thanks.