Power Company Kills Woman Using Breathing Machine Because of Unpaid Bill

MacGreat · May 30, 2007

How is this different from you shooting someone because that someone owed you money but couldn't pay it back?

hooroo · May 30, 2007

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4078404a6000.html

At least three separate inquiries will seek to uncover the truth of what led to the death of an oxygen-dependent woman and who, if anyone, should be held accountable.

Power to the home of Folole Muliaga was cut on Tuesday, rendering her oxygen supply useless. Hours later she was dead. By yesterday a political storm had erupted and a grieving family wanted answers.

The coroner is to determine the cause of death while police work to determine whether or not criminal charges should be laid. Mercury Energy is conducting its own internal investigation, with Electricity and Gas complaints commissioner Judi Jones offering her assistance.

Mrs Muliaga, a preschool teacher and mother of four, was recently sent home from a month-long stay in hospital. Family say she was in good spirits on Tuesday morning.

Son Ietitaia Muliaga, 20, said she had been up and walking around the family's Mangere, Auckland, home - the long hose of the oxygen machine trailing behind her.

Then, as she sat in her favourite chair in the living room, the machine's alarm shrilled and the hiss of oxygen to her lungs went silent.

A Mercury Energy contractor knocked at the door and, Ietitaia says, told them he had just cut off the power. According to family, Mrs Muliaga, 44, pleaded that she be given a chance to pay her outstanding power bill. Ietitaia said the contractor replied: "I'm just here to do my job." Then he left.

A little later, Mrs Muliaga told her son: "Look after your little brother and respect your Dad."

"I think she knew ... but she didn't tell us, she didn't want to worry us."

Minutes later, her vision started to blur and she felt dizzy and faint, then she collapsed. An ambulance was called but resuscitation failed and she died. Medics had not been called earlier because the family did not realise the seriousness of the situation. And she was not taken to a neighbour because, as a large woman, they could not carry her.

Mercury Energy general manager James Moulder said yesterday that, at no time during the six to seven-week disconnection process, was the company made aware of Mrs Muliaga's situation. It was company policy not to disconnect customers where a serious health issue could arise.

"Even if we are not told in advance, our contractors who carry out disconnections will tell us if they are made aware of circumstances which could put a customer at risk.

The contractor had told them that Mrs Muliaga had only discussed payment and reconnection time frames, not her medical situation.

It was also revealed yesterday that, though the power cut had rendered her oxygen machine useless, Mrs Muliaga should not have been reliant on it.

District health board chief medical officer Don Mackie told Radio New Zealand that Mrs Muliaga would not have been sent home had she needed the machine to keep her alive. "I feel surprised that this has happened ... This is not a ventilator at the intensive-care level." He was surprised Mrs Muliaga deteriorated so soon after support was withdrawn. "We need to understand more about that."

Mrs Muliaga's husband, Lopa, said he was not angry about his wife's death; just lost. "She was a happy wife, a lovely wife. She was humble, she was always helping people."

Mr Muliaga, a chef's assistant at Centra Airport Hotel, said he earned just $470 for a 40-hour week. When his wife became sick and had to give up her teaching job, the family struggled for money.

"Before then everything was good. We didn't have any worries."

He pulled a folded power bill from his pocket yesterday and looked at it bemused.

His wife had always paid all the bills and he was uncertain as to why their power had been cut off.

The account showed they owed a total of $304.40, but $136 of that was not due till June 13, leaving $168 outstanding. Further, it showed the family had made two payments this month, $61.90 on May 2 and $45 on May 18.

Nowhere on the account he presented did it state their power would be cut off if the bill was not paid immediately. It was dated May 23.

Meanwhile, Victim Support contacted Mercury Energy on Tuesday after Mrs Muliaga died and asked them to put the power back on.

A Muliaga family spokesman said Mercury refused to do so till the bill was paid. The company says it was told only that power was required for a funeral.

Power was restored yesterday.
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http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0705/S00652.htm

Mercury Energy general manager James Moulder said yesterday that, at no time during the six to seven-week disconnection process, was the company made aware of Mrs Muliaga's situation. It was company policy not to disconnect customers where a serious health issue could arise.

"Even if we are not told in advance, our contractors who carry out disconnections will tell us if they are made aware of circumstances which could put a customer at risk.

The contractor had told them that Mrs Muliaga had only discussed payment and reconnection time frames, not her medical situation.

It was also revealed yesterday that, though the power cut had rendered her oxygen machine useless, Mrs Muliaga should not have been reliant on it.
Click to expand...

Dr of Dunk · May 30, 2007

MacGreat said:

How is this different from you shooting someone because that someone owed you money but couldn't pay it back?
Click to expand...

I'm guessing the electric company's goal wasn't to kill the woman when they shut the electricity off. Your intent is to kill/hurt the person for not paying you back. Not to mention I have no idea what kind of contracts or agreements are signed in NZ before getting electric service.

Dr of Dunk · May 30, 2007

Iiiiiinteresting...

A Mercury Energy contractor knocked at the door and, Ietitaia says, told them he had just cut off the power. According to family, Mrs Muliaga, 44, pleaded that she be given a chance to pay her outstanding power bill. Ietitaia said the contractor replied: "I'm just here to do my job." Then he left.
Click to expand...

Mercury Energy general manager James Moulder said yesterday that, at no time during the six to seven-week disconnection process, was the company made aware of Mrs Muliaga's situation. It was company policy not to disconnect customers where a serious health issue could arise.

"Even if we are not told in advance, our contractors who carry out disconnections will tell us if they are made aware of circumstances which could put a customer at risk.

The contractor had told them that Mrs Muliaga had only discussed payment and reconnection time frames, not her medical situation.

It was also revealed yesterday that, though the power cut had rendered her oxygen machine useless, Mrs Muliaga should not have been reliant on it.
Click to expand...

A-Train · May 30, 2007

MacGreat said:

How is this different from you shooting someone because that someone owed you money but couldn't pay it back?
Click to expand...

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Supermac34 · May 30, 2007

This whole situation seems retartded.

Once they knew the power was going down they could have:

1. Called her Doctor.
2. Immediately called an ambulance/police/fire rescue.
3. Asked neighbors for help.
4. Run an extension cord.
5. Checked into a hotel.
6. Put a generator on a credit card at Wal-Mart.
7. Gone to ANY local church/charity.
8. Called family/friends for help.
9. Driven to Wal-Mart and plugged into the wall.
10. Called the news station.

It took her HOURS to die.

ANYthing to prevent her from dying once they KNEW the power was going to be out. PLUS the Doctors stating they wouldn't have sent her home if she was really that dependent on the oxygen. Something sound really, really fishy here.

DaDakota · May 30, 2007

How terrible? Couldn't she go next door for a bit and plug in while they sorted it out?

DD

Tom Bombadillo · May 30, 2007

DaDakota said:

How terrible? Couldn't she go next door for a bit and plug in while they sorted it out?

DD
Click to expand...

Yea, that part doesnt make since to me either...

Suicide?

Sishir Chang · May 30, 2007

DaDakota said:

How terrible? Couldn't she go next door for a bit and plug in while they sorted it out?

DD
Click to expand...

Regarding about how quickly they could've moved her or gone and gotten a generator one thing I haven't seen is where she was living. We don't know if this was a rural area or somewhere where a neighbor was close. In the articles cited above they noted that she was a very large woman and moving her might've been difficult and the strain on her might've killed her faster.

Sishir Chang · May 30, 2007

Just to throw another wrinkle, and possibly move this to the D & D where it might be headed to anyway. Judging from the woman's name she is probably a Maori. The Maoris are the Polynesian descended New Zealanders who predate the English arrival and have historically been discriminated against by the English. Many of them still live in poverty and there still are some lingering racial tensions. I'm wondering if race and class might've played a role in this situation.

gr8-1 · May 30, 2007

Sishir Chang said:

Just to throw another wrinkle, and possibly move this to the D & D where it might be headed to anyway. Judging from the woman's name she is probably a Maori. The Maoris are the Polynesian descended New Zealanders who predate the English arrival and have historically been discriminated against by the English. Many of them still live in poverty and there still are some lingering racial tensions. I'm wondering if race and class might've played a role in this situation.
Click to expand...

So they weren't white? Oh, she had it coming then. I kid. Sad situation, but I don't know the whole story.

I'm a libertarian,but even I think this is harsh.

hotballa · May 30, 2007

DaDakota said:

How terrible? Couldn't she go next door for a bit and plug in while they sorted it out?

DD
Click to expand...

states she was a large woman. she couldnt move on her own (i assume due to illness) and they couldnt move her due to her size.

hotballa · May 30, 2007

doesnt look like the family ever got any warning about any monies being due anytime soon according to this...

sad.

Mr Muliaga, a chef's assistant at Centra Airport Hotel, said he earned just $470 for a 40-hour week. When his wife became sick and had to give up her teaching job, the family struggled for money.

"Before then everything was good. We didn't have any worries."

He pulled a folded power bill from his pocket yesterday and looked at it bemused.

His wife had always paid all the bills and he was uncertain as to why their power had been cut off.

The account showed they owed a total of $304.40, but $136 of that was not due till June 13, leaving $168 outstanding. Further, it showed the family had made two payments this month, $61.90 on May 2 and $45 on May 18.

Nowhere on the account he presented did it state their power would be cut off if the bill was not paid immediately. It was dated May 23.
Click to expand...

ima_drummer2k · May 31, 2007

This is a tragic situation. The lady sounded like a really good person.

But...

Minutes later, her vision started to blur and she felt dizzy and faint, then she collapsed. An ambulance was called but resuscitation failed and she died. Medics had not been called earlier because the family did not realise the seriousness of the situation. And she was not taken to a neighbour because, as a large woman, they could not carry her.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the family really screwed up and is now looking to pass the buck.

District health board chief medical officer Don Mackie told Radio New Zealand that Mrs Muliaga would not have been sent home had she needed the machine to keep her alive. "I feel surprised that this has happened ... This is not a ventilator at the intensive-care level." He was surprised Mrs Muliaga deteriorated so soon after support was withdrawn. "We need to understand more about that."
Click to expand...

That struck me as odd too. I'm not a doctor, I just play one on the bbs, but how often do hospitals send people home who need a machine (that relies on electricity) to keep them alive? Seems like a MAJOR liability.

hotballa · May 31, 2007

ima_drummer2k said:

This is a tragic situation. The lady sounded like a really good person.

But...

Sounds like the family really screwed up and is now looking to pass the buck.

That struck me as odd too. I'm not a doctor, I just play one on the bbs, but how often do hospitals send people home who need a machine (that relies on electricity) to keep them alive? Seems like a MAJOR liability.
Click to expand...

hard to blame the family. If the hospital told em that she didnt need the machine to survive, why would they think otherwise?

pgabriel · May 31, 2007

funny, i just started working for an electric company and there are programs here for people who need their power because it specifically is keeping them alive.

pgabriel · May 31, 2007

ima_drummer2k said:

That struck me as odd too. I'm not a doctor, I just play one on the bbs, but how often do hospitals send people home who need a machine (that relies on electricity) to keep them alive? Seems like a MAJOR liability.
Click to expand...

there are plenty of people who live on life support machines at their homes.

ima_drummer2k · May 31, 2007

pgabriel said:

there are plenty of people who live on life support machines at their homes.
Click to expand...

What happens if there is a power outage?

pgabriel · May 31, 2007

ima_drummer2k said:

What happens if there is a power outage?
Click to expand...

they are on a priority list with the power company to have their service cut back on first.

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