“Firefighters are human and they can make mistakes, but in this case, the mother knew something was terribly wrong,” Slack told KPNX, the local NBC affiliate. “She trusted Phoenix EMS. She trusted their judgment. And it cost her son his life.”
In response to the settlement, the City of Phoenix released a statement expressing sympathy for the Clugston family: “The City of Phoenix extends its deepest condolences. Following this incident, as with any incident, an internal review was conducted and steps have been taken to improve training and procedures. The City remains dedicated to protecting the health and safety of every member of our community.”
Attorneys representing the family acknowledged that no amount of money could ever undo the loss. But for Abraham’s parents, the settlement is about more than financial compensation — it’s about accountability and reform.
“From day one, Abraham’s parents were certain the city failed their son — whether through poor decision-making or a broken system that needed to be exposed and fixed,” said Slack. “Abraham’s death could and should have been prevented.”
Since Abraham’s passing, the family has advocated for changes in how emergency calls involving pediatric seizures are handled. According to their legal team, some procedural reforms have already been implemented, and the family is pushing for more.
“Their hope,” Slack said, “is that Abraham’s legacy will be to save other children’s lives. That no child experiencing a first-time seizure will ever again be left at the mercy of dismissive advice or poor judgment from a first responder team. Every child deserves a chance — and that begins with being taken to a hospital where they can get the care they need.”
The Clugston family has made it clear that their fight isn’t over. They intend to continue pushing for further improvements in emergency response protocols, so that Abraham’s story leads to lasting change — and no other parent has to endure the same loss.
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