I was involved in something similar only without the lawsuit many years ago...Seems there was a "troubled" young man who was intent on doing himself in that had to be rescued more than once, finally ODing and drowning. In every case first responders did extraordinary things to rescue the young man (risked their lives the last time with a full out water rescue, then long time CPR until they brought him back to life, but he finally expired later).
In my case as a young street cop I had a car full of junkies stopped and that same young man began eating an entire vial of pills on me. Ordered to stop he continued so I had to fully engage in a knock down struggle to stop him, then had to fight him into custody, finally we transported him directly to an emergency room to get his stomach pumped out - saving his life (I was number two or three of this guy's rescuers...).
A week after his death the local newspaper did a full page article on how the "system" had failed the young man. Can't tell you how mad I was when I read it.... and I'm sure many cops have similar stories from every state.
