GREENVILLE, N.C. — A volunteer medic in N.C. has been placed on administrative suspension after Twitter posts about suicidal patients.
According to WNCT News, one of the tweets by Lindsey Merritt, 23, read, “If you call 911 suicidal I’m not sure what you’re trying to gain. I’m not going to talk u out of it. I’m prob going to tell u how to do it right.”
Another tweet read, “Just another day and another sacrifice busting *** to save someone’s unappreciative, pathetic excuse for a life. #bitter #ill.”
The account, which is now de-activated, is stirring up questions of whether Merritt, Eastern Pines EMS, should be allowed to work in the medical field, according to WNCT News.
Merritt initially said the Twitter account was private and the tweets in question were obtained by someone who did not have her permission. She told the station she was upset about a close friend committing suicide, which promoted the posts, according to the report.
However, the second time WNCT News spoke to Merritt, she denied the account was hers but issued apology.
“I’m there to treat the patient and I am very sorry for any misunderstandings on anyone’s part about my feelings towards people with any psychological issues,” she said. “That I have family and friends that battle psychological issues. That my issue is the people who put a negative connotation with it by faking it and doing it for attention.”
Eastern Pines EMS Chief Gene Powell told the station he is aware of the situation and has put Merritt on administrative suspension awaiting a meeting with their Board of Directors.
“Even though she is a volunteer, she is still held to the same standards as any paid employee. This is not typical of our organization and we hold ourselves to a higher standard than this,” he said.