Worked for a private ambulance about 34 years ago in Boston. We got a CMED call for a possible sudden in Southie on New Year's morning about 7 am. We got there and the caller who seemed a bit s-l-o-w-w-w-w brought us upstairs at about the same pace his brain was functioning, and we were in a hurry since it was a POSSIBLE sudden or maybe cardiac arrest. We make it to the third floor and finally to her apartment where she's stretched out, panties down, arm up, mouth open and two small cats walking all over her and stepping in the excrement she had expelled. My partner (the senior guy-and actually a real joy to work with-we had loads of fun, but he was a prick this morning) says, "Well, check the pulse." So, I did even though we could detect rigor, what, I'm going to argue with a guy with 10x the experience?
He laughs at me and says he has to go back to the truck to call for police and ME. I have to stay with the lady. The friend, shit, I have no idea where he went. The whole time my partner was gone, I just looked from the window, to her, half expecting her to reach out and grab me. He comes back up about 10 minutes later and says, "Did you get her to sign the release form?" I said I considered it, but she wouldn't hold the pen properly.
Police came, we split.
I've been BLESSED to only deal with 2 deaths, on being a suicide. Several attempted suicides, but only one completed and out New Year Lady. Dodging bullets is a God send.