Man Allegedly Robbed While Dying at ER

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) A 63-year-old school counselor and community activist, Joaquin Rivera, died last month while waiting for treatment at the emergency room of Aria Hospital's Frankford Campus.

The case has prompted local and national outrage regarding health care for working-class communities. Rivera walked to the ER about 10:45 p.m. Nov. 28, complaining to staff of pain in his left arm. He was told to wait, and sat down in the waiting room. He never got up again. Rivera was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, who has vowed to hold hearings about the case, has a meeting scheduled this afternoon with Aria Health officials to discuss the case.

The state Department of Health, Philadelphia police and Aria Health are investigating the case.

But there's more. As Mr. Rivera was dying while waiting, he was robbed. Caught on videotape were a woman and two men allegedly stealing Mr. Rivera's wristwatch "off his person." Jannia Walker, 21, Richard Alten, 44, and Martin Smith, 41, have been arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy, robbery and related offenses. Alten and Smith reportedly are homeless and both have police records.