EMS1.com News

February 21, 2012

Pa. widow fights for paramedic death benefits

Bethann McIntosh was denied federal benefits after husband died

MyFoxPhilly

BENSALEM, Pa. — Dan McIntosh was the kind of guy you'd want in your community: a full time paramedic, part time police officer and volunteer firefighter.

It was paramedic McIntosh who lost his life back in march 2010, felled by a heart attack while chasing a mentally ill man at the scene of what started as a routine call. His widow Bethann was told McIntosh died instantly.

Bethann's younger daughter was just a toddler — too young to understand. Explaining Dan's death to their oldest, was excruciating. Then came the real shock. As a Bensalem paramedic, McIntosh was technically a contract worker and not a Bensalem employee.

Full Story: Widow fights for medic death benefits

Widow Fights For Paramedic Benefits: MyFoxPHILLY.com

Comments

The comments below are member-generated and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of EMS1.com or its staff.

Donna Graham Hammond Tuesday, February 21, 2012 9:46:50 PM .This is so sad! Please get this law changed! All responders should be eligible even if contract employees! They still put their life on the line, and it seems as if there is no doubt, he gave all

Melody Juarez Wednesday, February 22, 2012 7:28:58 AM As a paramedic myself for 34 years I was volunteer, part time and then to full time when our service hired 12 full time paramedics. I never thought of benefits for my family should something happen to me. I feel sad for this young mother and something should change to help her and her children. You'd think his service would fight for his rights and change this ridiculous law.

Christopher Adams Wed Feb 22 20:30:30 PST 2012 "You'd think his service would fight for his rights and change this ridiculous law." That's exactly what is happening. It has taken lots of time and we are gaining momentum. However, we need the help of ems providers from all over the country to call/write their Representatives in the House to tell them to support this bill. Want more information about what is happening? Want to really do something? Go to http://bcehs.com/LODD.htm. This link gives you all you need to know about HR 4018 and what you can do to help. This page gives you everything, even a sample letter you can send to your Representative and/or Senator. Please help us so that the family of the next LODD EMT or paramedic gets what they deserve.

Mike Pettis Wednesday, February 22, 2012 10:35:12 AM He performed as a Public Safety Officer/employee or whatever official term you like. His widow deserves the benefit. It is unfortunate to see the real concern is always the bottom line of the profit column. Too many good companies and agencies lose site of the people who got them where they are.

Henry E. Brainard Wednesday, February 22, 2012 10:46:41 AM All LODD deaths for all responders should receive that benefits. Treating one group one way and EMS another makes EMS workers the ugly stepchild of responders.

Dale Johnson Wednesday, February 22, 2012 2:05:05 PM Any public safety responder, REGARDLESS of employer, should be eligible for the LODD benefit. It's amazing how, once again, EMS personnel around the country are treated like third class citizens. It should not matter if you work for a fire department, municipal agency, volunteer agency, hospital service, or even a private company. If you are responding to 9-1-1 type calls, you should be covered. Period.

Dale Johnson Wed Feb 22 14:13:46 PST 2012 And try contacting the agency responsible for administering this program and find out who is actually covered and who is not. Good luck. I tried. It's like it is some sort of secret.

Skip Kirkwood Wed Feb 22 16:55:42 PST 2012 Actually it's pretty easy, Dale, and we have a guy here in Raleigh (DOI Fire Marshal's Office) who is our state expert on it. Here's the issue - it's a federal statute, and difficult to change. But the title tells it all - The Public Safety Officer Death Benefit Act. The operative word (that NAEMT, AAA, and others are working to change) is "public" - until that changes, some are left out. Those in EMS who have not yet "heard the word" - you need to join NAEMT and become part of the solution!

Dale Johnson Wed Feb 22 17:00:09 PST 2012 Thanks, Chief. I had tried to go through the USDOJ office. Had not even considered NCDOI and all. . And you are right about NAEMT and such. I may have to reconsider that. I was a member years ago, but it seemed at that time they were getting way out of touch with what a lot of us considered "the real world".

Andy Van Lente Wednesday, February 22, 2012 2:44:50 PM Try contacting your Congressman, that's what they had to do here in Arkansas when we had a crew hit by a train.

Kathy Mc Govern Wednesday, February 22, 2012 2:50:58 PM I find it ridiculous that they are drawing lines, guaranteed it's all about the money. Yet the moron he was chasing that led to his cardiac arrest can probably sue and get millions.

Caroline Donnelly Wednesday, February 22, 2012 3:21:48 PM A public service officer.......shame on the athorities.....

Rita Michelle Freeman Wednesday, February 22, 2012 4:02:26 PM This is just another shining example of the way the system can get one over on the people. God bless this family and my prayers are with them that justice will be done.

Dale Johnson Wed Feb 22 16:07:32 PST 2012 Michelle, a lot of people would be amazed to learn that most of the EMS personnel in our country are not covered by the federal LODD benefit. For example, EMS personnel in Chatham, Cumberland, Granville, Lee, and New Hanover Counties are NOT covered...

Rita Michelle Freeman Wed Feb 22 16:24:40 PST 2012 So sad. God knows these are some of the most deserving people in Americas workforce. What a shame.

Mike Singleton Wednesday, February 22, 2012 4:42:01 PM Email or call your Congressman and Senator! Nothing else will get this resolved! I just did.....will you?

Kevan Williams Friday, February 24, 2012 5:58:18 AM As a national asset, we need to contact our federal legislators and ask that they support this bill. I live in Congressman Fitzpatrick's district and I know that as one of the authors of this bill he is working very hard to get this bill pushed thru into law, as Christopher Adams stated we need eveyone to go to the www.bcehs.com/LODD link and follow those instructions and make this grassroots effort to not only honor Danny Mac but Bethann and their children to get this passed into law. What really smacks one in the face is that Dan was acting as a paramedic that fateful night had he been working his parttime job as a police officer or on a firetruck this would never have come to light and his family would be taken care of. So PLEASE EVERYONE MAKE THE EFFORT BECAUSE IT COULD BE YOU!

Ole Pickles Friday, February 24, 2012 7:40:44 PM I don't know with people making laws they make it so good that they overlooked the very simple fact that if a person dies within working hours, benefit should be given. More so on people we call everyday to save lives...

Carl Tompkins Saturday, February 25, 2012 2:17:12 PM I guess the trick is to better define Public Safety Officer (on paper). Who pays the company he worked for, the town of Bensalem or insurance companies and individuals? Skip Kirkwood said it best, get vocal with the lawmakers or an organization that can lobby the lawmakers.