Minneapolis witnessed a troubling incident on March 15, 2024, as a shooting led to a tense confrontation between a bystander claiming to be a doctor and federal immigration agents. The exchange raised critical questions about the role of medical professionals in emergency situations, particularly when law enforcement is present.
Video footage from the scene shows the bystander, identified only as a physician, asking if he could check the pulse of Renee Good, who was shot while attempting to flee federal agents. “No,” responded one agent. “Back up.” The agent’s dismissive reply, “I don’t care,” has sparked discussions about the protocols governing bystander medical assistance at crime scenes.
Good was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. She was subsequently pronounced dead at the hospital, as confirmed by Minneapolis police accounts. In Minnesota, under the Good Samaritan law, licensed medical professionals are obligated to assist injured individuals at emergency scenes. Yet, when law enforcement takes control, they reserve the authority to accept or reject such offers of help.
Dr. Steven Miles, a retired physician and bioethics professor at the University of Minnesota, noted that while police officers often welcome assistance in treating victims of vehicle accidents, situations like mass shootings can complicate these dynamics. “A bystander can be told to stand down as part of the scene management,” he explained.
Concerns about the legitimacy of bystanders claiming medical expertise further complicate the issue. Emergency medical services (EMS) officials have reported instances where individuals misrepresented their qualifications, particularly during chaotic events like protests.
The issue of bystander medical assistance has been highlighted in past incidents, such as the case of George Floyd in 2020, where off-duty firefighter Genevieve Hansen testified that police officers refused her urgent pleas to check on Floyd as he lay dying.
In the recent shooting incident, the bystander backed away after a second federal agent intervened, assuring him that emergency medical services were en route. “We’ve got EMS coming in. I get it. Just give us a second,” the agent stated.
An official spokesperson for Hennepin County Medical Center declined to comment on the emergency response or whether bystander intervention could have influenced the outcome, citing the ongoing investigation. Dr. Miles emphasized the need for a detailed review of the entire EMS response, particularly regarding the policies of the Department of Homeland Security and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division concerning bystander medical assistance.
Reports indicate that federal vehicles and other obstructions may have hindered the ability of Hennepin EMS to reach the scene promptly. If these claims are substantiated, Dr. Miles suggested that they would signify a failure in policy and training by ICE, which could have endangered lives.
Hennepin EMS maintains a clear policy regarding the involvement of bystanders who are medical professionals when ambulance crews are on site. Paramedics can defer medical decision-making to doctors with appropriate credentials and can call for assistance from those unwilling to take on such responsibility. However, the protocols for situations prior to paramedic arrival remain less defined.
The Minneapolis Police Department currently lacks a formal written policy governing when officers should accept or decline medical aid from bystanders. Attempts to obtain guidance from the Department of Homeland Security on this matter went unanswered. A policy memo does exist, mandating that agents seek or provide medical attention after resolving safety threats, but it does not clarify the role of bystanders.
This incident highlights the complexities surrounding emergency medical aid at crime scenes, emphasizing the need for clearer policies and training for law enforcement to ensure that all individuals, including bystanders with medical expertise, can contribute effectively to life-saving efforts in critical situations.
