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NA’s Zadroga named fallen hero
(by COREY KLEIN - November 06, 2007)
When Joe Zadroga, a North Arlington native and former police chief, asked the New York City medical examiner to review the cause of his son’s death, his only goal was to have him placed on a list of victims of the World Trade Center attacks. Now the New York governor is saying Joe Zadroga’s son wasn’t much of a hero.
Joe Zadroga’s son, James Zadroga, spent hundreds of hours on duty as a New York City police officer at ground zero during the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Within a short period of time, James Zadroga began experienc-ing severe respiratory problems, which caused him to retire from the force. In January 2006, James Zadroga died at age 34. At the time, the Zadrogas were living in Little Egg Harbor, so Gerard Breton, an Ocean County pa-thologist conducted an autopsy.
Breton determined that the cause of death was heart failure from pulmonary lung disease directly related to his work at ground zero. Zadroga became one of two reported cases of people dying as a result of inhalation of the toxic dust that burned and lingered in the air for days, according to Zadroga’s attorney, Michael Barasch.
The other case was Felicia Dunn-Jones. Dunn-Jones, a lawyer who worked near ground zero, was added to a list of 9/11 victims after her husband and attorney pressed the New York City medical examiner to review her case.
New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney sponsored a bill in New York to provide compensation for work-ers and volunteers who contributed to post-9/11 rescue and cleanup efforts at ground zero. The bill, dubbed “The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act,” provided long-term medical monitoring, treatment and compensation to 9/11 responders.
It was Maloney who suggested that the family should have the medical examiner review Zadroga’s case, be-cause, like Dunn-Jones, Zadroga’s death was attributed to the toxic dust at ground zero. Last month, New York City medical examiner Charles Hirsch came out with his findings. He determined “with certainty beyond doubt” that Zadroga’s problems were a result of the misuse of prescription drugs, not from inhalation of toxic dust from ground zero.
Breton and others in the medical community disagreed with Hirsch’s determination. “I have not changed and I do not intend to change my report. That’s their opinion and I have my opinion. [Chief forensic pathologist for the New York state police and a former New York City medical examiner] Dr. [Michael] Baden and I both agree. We are standing on our position,” said Breton.
Last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg commented on James Zadroga’s case while speaking at Harvard University, according to Barasch. According to media reports, Bloomberg said Zadroga was not a hero and he stood by Hirsch’s report.
At first, the family just wanted recognition. Now, the family wants an apology from Bloomberg. “I’m looking for an apology from the mayor for accusing my son of abusing drugs,” said Joe Zadroga. Between compensation from the 9/11 fund and from the New York City police department, the family is not seeking money, according to the Joe Zadroga and Barasch.
Differing opinions
Some prescription medications contain talc and cellulose. Both are insoluble when injected into the blood stream and obstruct blood vessels, according to Ellen Borakove, a spokesperson for the New York City Medical Examiner. “This condition is unmistakable when you look at microscopic slides,” she said.
However, Barasch pointed out that both substances also come from the burning ashes of a building. Cellulose is in wood and talc is found in everything from sheet rock to concrete. The wood, concrete and sheet rock burned for 99 days after the collapse of the two towers.
Joe Zadroga found it peculiar that Bloomberg decided to make comments about his son while the city was fighting a lawsuit against 9,000 9/11 individuals who claimed injuries sustained from breathing air from ground zero. “It’s an unfortunate coincidence that Dr. Hirsch is employed by the City of New York that is facing these 9,000 pending lawsuits,” said Barasch.
Regardless, there are two points of view. One is that James Zadroga inhaled toxic dust and air at ground zero. The other was that he had been using prescription drugs improperly. The only person who has claimed medications caused James Zadroga’s death happens to work for the City of New York.
James Zadroga was in horrible pain and experiencing depression during the years leading up to his death. He was taking 14 medications per day because of injuries sustained at ground zero, said Barasch. Even if he had accidentally misused drugs, the World Trade Center attacks still killed him.
“Even if you assume that the City of New York’s medical examiner is correct, it makes no difference,” said Barasch. “This is not about money, this is just about [Joe Zadroga’s] son getting the honor he deserves.”
It took the family of Dunn-Jones several appeals before she was placed on a list of victims, said Barasch, and they intend to keep trying until James Zadroga is honored. “We’re not just gonna let this die. We’re gonna convince [Hirsch] that he’s wrong,” he said.
Former North Arlington Mayor and Meadowlands Commissioner Len Kaiser, a family friend of the Zadrogas since childhood, was appalled by Bloomberg’s comments. “The city should honor this young man who spent hundreds of hours in service to those that perished to bring closure and relief to the families who lost loved one[s] in the attack and his family is entitled to the same respect,” said Kaiser. “Hopefully they’ll come to their senses over there in the Big Apple one of these days.”
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