A man in Chicago, Illinois, called for an ambulance after experiencing neck stiffness and what he believed was pneumonia. First responders arrived, but he was then accused of illegally calling 911, as, according to one paramedic, he was having a “non-emergency.”
TikTok Jmoney, who also goes by Abdul Ararsa, shared the interaction while on board the ambulance. He often shares politically charged content online, rarely appearing on camera. The clip attached above was the exception, and it garnered 537,100 views, 71,700 likes, and more than 4,600 comments.
In the clip’s description, the Illinois man said that he was experiencing “severe signs of pneumonia” and a neck injury. From the get-go, the paramedic can be heard accusing Abdul of what he deems “abuse of the system.” According to the first responder, the man had called for “a ride to the hospital.” Confused, the patient asked the paramedic, “I’m abusing the system because I feel like I have a medical emergency?“
“Yes,” the paramedic said.
Abdul then asked for the man’s name, which was Art. When asking about his last name, he was met with, “It’s right here. If you can’t read it, I can’t help you with it.” Turns out, his name, as confirmed by the paramedic himself, is Art McNeill, who, according to his LinkedIn, has worked as an ambulance commander for the Chicago Fire Department since May 2008.
‘Illegal’ 911 Call
Then, the paramedic can be heard doubling down on his accusation, calling what Abdul did “illegal.”
“If you like my chief to come talk to you about what a medical emergency is, I can have my chief come talk to you too,” he said. “Or the 19th District, the police station, would love to talk to you about it. ‘Cause technically what you did is illegal.”
The Illinois patient asked for clarification, and McNeill explained that he had called an ambulance while displaying what he deemed as “non-emergency vital signs.” He then took Abdul’s sprained neck and said that it was “pain letting you know you’re alive.” The man then brought up his pneumonia, and the paramedic said that, alongside his neck pain, they were “two things that are non-medical emergencies that require an ambulance.”
“I genuinely feel that this mistreatment, intimidation, and refusal to take my health seriously was racially motivated,” Abdul wrote in the clip’s description. “Calling 911 in good faith when you believe you are sick is NOT a crime. Paramedics are supposed to help us, not threaten, judge, and mistreat us based on who we are.”
Social Media Reactions
The video sparked multiple responses online, mostly from viewers who were as outraged as the Illinois man. One said, “They don’t believe we can feel pain.” Another one commented, “Your vital signs don’t dictate what your pain, symptoms, or diagnosis could be.”
Other healthcare professionals reacted to the clip, with one writing, “Hi, EMT here, that is absolutely unacceptable.” A small group of users agreed with the paramedic, with one saying, “Ambulances aren’t taxis.” Many more users bashed these comments, leading to heated debates.
Abdul has since filed formal complaints with the City of Chicago and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
